A Survey Study on the Factors Associated with Falls Among Elderly

Hwang, Ok Nam

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify physical, psychological and environmental factors affecting elderly falls and to identify fall frequencies according to each dwelling places and types and to provide basic data for developing preventive strategies following fall accident of the elderly. The research design was a reprospective survey study which analyzed fall experiences during the past year. Data was collected from Nov, 1997 to Mar, 1998 for four months by personal interview. The research subjects were 475 people over 65 years old, who dwelled in their homes, two free nursing homes, one elderly sanatorium town and five general hospitals. Research results were as follow ; The mean age of the subjects was 73.1 years. Of the subjects, 69.9% was female, 64% was separate or bereaved, 55.8% had no education, 34.7% had no religion, 43.1% was extreme poverty. 73.1% of the elderly dwelled in their homes and 20% of the subjects were living at fishing and agraian villages. Mean number of diseases per subject was 2.63 of which musculo-skeletal problem was most common. Elderlies who experienced falls were 48.2%, 55.9% of them had fallen once a year. The most frequent fall occurrence time was from noon to 3 pm, the season was winter and the fall places were outdoors. Highest fall cause was sliding. 60.6% of the injuries were minor, 14.2% were serious( fracture, dislocation, amputation or head injuries ), which were treated by hospitalization or surgery. Especially most house facilities had potential risk factors of the fall. There were no handrail, slippy surface and narrow space of the bathrooms, high door sill and dangerous stairs etc. There were significant differences on the presence of falls in the elderly according to sex, education level, number of diseases, use of brace and living together with children. There were significant differences on the presence of the falls in the elderly according to toilet type, presence of threshold and stairs, surface of bathroom, depression level, cognitive function and ADL ability. Variables which affected ADL ability of the elderly were age, house type, self-rating health status and gait ability. Variables which affected depression of the elderly were age, religion, education level, marital status, living together with children, self-rating health status and number of diseases. Variables which affected cognitive function of the elderly were religion, age and house type. In conclusion, this study showed various physical, psychological and environmental fall risk factors of the elderly. So there is a need to development suitable intervention programs to reduce risk factors, to make elderly life sage and to increase the quality of their life.