Home hazards and falls in the elderly: the role of health and functional status.

• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.85.4.509
• Publication Date: 2008-11-29T13:18:52Z
• Authors: M E Northridge; M C Nevitt; J L Kelsey; B Link
• Keywords: Aged, 80 and over; Male; Frail Elderly; Health Status; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Floors and Floorcoverings; Activities of Daily Living; Humans; Accidental Falls; Female; Prospective Studies; 0305 other medical science; Lighting; Aged; Interior Design and Furnishings

OBJECTIVES. This study was undertaken to determine whether vigorous and frail older people who identify environmental hazards in their homes have an increased risk for falls. METHODS. A 1-year prospective conducted among 266 female 59 male community-dwelling volunteers aged 60 93 years had fallen at least once during the previous year. Composite measures of home safety frailty were derived using principal components analysis. Participants divided into groups, associations between baseline falls over follow-up year compared two groups. RESULTS. Frail individuals more than twice as likely fall (rate ratio [RR] = 2.24; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.54, 3.27). In group a whole, not strongly associated with presence hazards. However, when persons living fewer hazards, fall. The elderly limited where present. By contrast, likelihood persons. CONCLUSIONS. While experience higher overall rates, should be overlooked prevention projects.