Incidence of Falls among Inmates of Old Age Pensioners Homes

Overview

In the course of twelve months falls were recorded in 30 (21.3%) inmates of old age pensioners homes (23 women, i.e. 5.6% of the total number, and 7 men, 13.7% of the total number. The ratio of subjects who suffered falls from the total number of 75-year-olds and older (32.3%) was significantly higher than in those under 74 years (12.7%). The majority of subjects had only one fall (70%). On the whole 50 falls were recorded, i.e. on average 1.7 falls. As to causes of falls internal ones predominated over external ones. Two thirds of falls occurred in daytime, one third during the night. A total of 22% falls required surgical treatment and one tenth were fractures. The authors draw attention to preventive measures in institutional care.

Key words:
falls - institutional care - old age pensioners homes - functional examination of gait and balance - orthostatic hypotension - fractures - Folstein’s MMSE test - regular use of drugs and psychopharmaceutical preparations