Fall Risk Calculator / Morse Fall Scale
Morse Fall Risk Scale Explained
Score the Morse Fall Scale used in hospitals and care homes to assess fall risk.
Your result
Enter your numbers and press the button. Your result appears here.
How the Morse Fall Scale works
Nurses score six items when a patient is admitted and whenever their condition changes.
Score = history + diagnosis + aid + IV + gait + mental status (0–125)
Each hospital decides the score at which extra fall precautions start; 45 is a common threshold.
Using the Morse scale
Score on admission, after a fall and when the patient's condition changes. The score guides precautions but does not replace clinical judgement.
Fall risk tools
| Tool | At-risk score |
|---|---|
| CDC STEADI checklist | 4 or more of 14 |
| Morse Fall Scale | 45 or more (commonly) |
| Gait speed | Below 0.8 m/s |
Common questions
How can I lower my risk of falling?
Strength and balance exercise such as tai chi, a medicine review, eye checks, safe footwear and removing trip hazards at home.
Should I talk to a doctor?
Yes, if the result worries you or if you have new symptoms. These tools support, but do not replace, a clinical assessment.
Sources
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- CDC. STEADI: Stay Independent brochure. Morse JM et al. A prospective study to identify the fall-prone patient. Soc Sci Med 1989;28:81–86.
- Bohannon RW, Andrews AW. Normal walking speed: a descriptive meta-analysis. Physiotherapy 2011;97:182–189. Studenski S et al. Gait speed and survival in older adults. JAMA 2011;305:50–58.
- Mahoney FI, Barthel DW. Functional evaluation: the Barthel Index. Md State Med J 1965;14:61–65. Shah S et al. J Clin Epidemiol 1989;42:703–709.
- Morley JE et al. A simple frailty questionnaire (FRAIL). J Nutr Health Aging 2012;16:601–608. Searle SD et al. A standard procedure for creating a frailty index. BMC Geriatr 2008;8:24.
- Kivipelto M et al. Risk score for the prediction of dementia risk in 20 years among middle aged people. Lancet Neurol 2006;5:735–741. Tombaugh TN, McIntyre NJ. J Am Geriatr Soc 1992;40:922–935.