Prevalence of risk factors for falls among elderly people living in long-term care homes

Background

Falls are common among the geriatric population, causing frequent morbidity and mortality. There is an increased risk of fall among older people living in long-term care homes. Identifying risk factors for falls among older people living in old-age homes can help in the care and prevention of falls in this population.

Aim

To evaluate the prevalence of various risk factors for falls among older people living in long-term care homes.

Methods

A total of 163 elderly men and women aged 60–95 years were studied. History of falls revealed by participants, Long Term Care Fall Risk Assessment Form, Mini Mental State Examination, Berg Balance Scale, Fall Factors Assessment Form, and Dynamic Gait Index were used as the assessment tools in this study. The odds ratio for the risk factors for falls was calculated. The association between the risk of fall and the risk factors was assessed using the χ² test. The degree of functional disability between the high-risk and low-risk groups was analyzed using an independent t test.

Results

The following risk factors were significantly associated will falls: poor vision [odds ratio (OR) = 1.851], chronic conditions (OR = 1.633), vertigo (OR = 2.237), imbalance (OR = 3.105), fear of falling (OR = 3.227), and previous falls (OR = 5.661) (all p < 0.001). There was a significant difference between high-risk and low-risk groups for all functional and cognitive measures: Long Term Care Fall Risk Assessment (t = 20.824), Mini Mental State Examination (t = −6.18), Berg Balance Scale (t = −12.59) and Dynamic Gait Index (t = −14.7) (all p < 0.001).

Conclusion

We found that history of falls, poor vision, use of multiple medications, chronic diseases, use of walking aids, vertigo, and balance problems were associated with falls among the elderly population living in long-term care homes. Women had a higher risk of falls than men.