How it's calculated
Six items are scored with different weights — history of falling, secondary diagnosis, ambulatory aid, IV/heparin lock, gait, and mental status — and summed for a total of 0-125.
Risk categories
| Total score | Risk |
|---|---|
| 0-24 | Low risk |
| 25-44 | Moderate risk |
| ≥ 45 | High risk |
Clinical use
- Used on hospital admission and periodically thereafter to identify patients at risk of falling and trigger appropriate precautions.
- A moderate or high score should prompt standard or high-risk fall-prevention interventions per local protocol (e.g. bed alarm, non-slip footwear, hourly rounding, physiotherapy referral).
- Should be re-scored after any fall, transfer, or significant change in the patient's condition.
Frequently asked questions
What score is considered high fall risk?
Commonly a score of 45 or above, though this and the exact intervention thresholds vary by institution — confirm against your local fall-prevention policy.
How often should the Morse Fall Scale be repeated?
Typically on admission, after any fall, on transfer between units, and at intervals defined by local policy (often each shift).
Who developed the Morse Fall Scale?
Janice Morse, published in the late 1980s — it remains one of the most widely used inpatient fall-risk assessment tools internationally.
References
- Morse JM, Morse RM, Tylko SJ. Development of a Scale to Identify the Fall-Prone Patient. Can J Aging. 1989;8(4):366-377.
- Morse JM. Preventing Patient Falls. 2nd ed. Springer Publishing.