Fall Risk and Its Associated Factors among Older Adults without Home-Help Services in a Swedish Municipality

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 181-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catharina Sjödahl Hammarlund ◽  
Peter Hagell ◽  
Albert Westergren
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Home Help ◽  
Home Help Services

The Relationship Between Fear of Falling and Functional Fitness among Older Adults Living in Rest Home

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Tuna ◽  
Ö Bozan ◽  
B Gürpınar ◽  
N İlçin
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Functional Fitness ◽  
Fall Risk Factors ◽  
Rest Home ◽  
History Of

Objective: This study aimed to report the fear of falling and assess its associations with several fall-related characteristics and functional fitness parameters among older adults living in the rest home. Methods: Seventy-eight older adults aged between 65-94 years were included in the study. History of falling and the number of risk factors for falling were recorded. Fear of falling was evaluated with The Falls Efficacy ScaleInternational. Functional fitness was assessed with Senior Fitness Test, including tests for the functional measurement of strength, flexibility, aerobic endurance and dynamic balance. Result: The mean age of participants was 78.46±7.16 years. There were correlations exist between fear of falling and number of fall risk factors, dynamic balance, upper body flexibility and aerobic endurance (p<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the parameters with the highest determinants of fear of falling were the dynamic balance and history of falling (p<0.05). Conclusions: In our study, history of falling, number of fall risk factors, flexibility for the upper body, aerobic endurance and dynamic balance were parameters related to fear of falling among older adults, but the most influential factors in fear of falling were dynamic balance and history of falling.

scholarly journals Perceptions of Care Among Older Adults Identified as Fall Risk During a Hospital Stay

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 139-139
Author(s):  
Barbara King
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hospital Stay ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Fall Prevention ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Common Strategy ◽  
Open Coding ◽  
Perceptions Of Care

Abstract In-hospital falls are a significant clinical, legal and regulatory problem. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid no longer reimburse hospitals for falls that result in injury, adding increase pressure on acute care settings to prevent falls. Additionally, evidence-based practice recommendations for fall prevention in hospitals do not exist, thus leaving administrators to create their own programs. One common strategy used by hospital providers to prevent falls is to restrict patient mobility. Little information on how older adult patients experience fall prevention during a hospital stay has been published. The purpose of this study was to understand perceptions of care among older adults identified as fall risk during a hospital stay. This qualitative study utilized inductive content analysis. Older adults (N=20) from a large academic medical center in the Midwest were recruited to participate in one-to one in-depth interviews. Open coding, categorization and abstraction was used to analyze the data. Three main categories were identified that summarized the older adult patient perception of hospitalization: Act of Caring, something they received from staff, provide to staff or provided to self; Being Restricted in movement resulting in either accepting or rejecting the restriction and Being Freed at discharge, often being told “just be careful”. Older adult identified as fall risk described being restricted in movement during a hospital stay. Many passively accepted this restriction even though they felt a lack of movement would be harmful to them. Additional research on the patient experience with fall prevention is needed.

scholarly journals Student-Led Fall Prevention Care Management Reduced Fall Risks at Assisted Living Facilities

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 238-238
Author(s):  
Hiroko Kiyoshi-Teo ◽  
Claire McKinley-Yoder ◽  
Erin Lemon ◽  
Olivia Ochoa
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Fall Prevention ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Care Management ◽  
Assisted Living Facilities ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Fall Risks ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Older adults in residential care settings are four times more likely than those not living in care facilities to experience falls. Yet, fall prevention efforts at long-term care settings are under-resourced, under-regulated, and under-studied. To address this gap, we developed and studied the impact of a specialty clinical, Fall Prevention Care Management (FPCM), for nursing students to decrease older adults’ fall risks. We enrolled assisted living residents that facility liaison identified as being high fall risk (fall rates or fall risk were not tracked at the study sites) and MOCA ≥15, in 2 assisted living facilities in Northwest USA. Participants received weekly, 1-hour, individual, semi-structured, Motivational Interviewing-based care management visits by same students over 6 visits. Changes in fall risks were measured by the CDC STEADI assessment (unsteadiness & worry), Falls Self-Efficacy Scale International-Short (FESI-S), and Falls Behavioral Scale (FAB). Twenty-five residents completed the study. Students addressed the following (multiple responses possible): emotional needs (n=23), improved motivation to prevent falls (n=21), and individualized education/coaching (i.e., exercise, mobility aids) (n=10-17). FESI-S score improved from 16.0 to 14.4 (p=.001; decreased fear. FAB score improved from 2.94 to 3.10 (p=.05; more frequent fall prevention behaviors). Frequency of those who felt steady while standing or walking increased (24% to 40%, p=.07) and those who did not worry about falling increased (20% to 36%, p=.08). FPCM clinical offered valuable opportunity to address unmet care needs of older adults to reduce fall risks.

scholarly journals Toe Clearance Rehabilitative Slippers for Older Adults With Fall Risk: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215145932110291
Author(s):  
Atsuko Satoh ◽  
Yukoh Kudoh ◽  
Sangun Lee ◽  
Masumi Saitoh ◽  
Miwa Miura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Berg Balance Scale ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mobility Assessment ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Day Services ◽  
And Control

Introduction: To evaluate fall-prevention rehabilitative slippers for use by self-caring, independent older adults. Materials and Methods: This assessor-blinded, randomized, and controlled 1-year study included 59 self-caring, independent participants (49 women) who attended day services. The mean age of participants was 84.0 ± 5.3 years. Participants were randomly selected from 8 nursing homes. We tested slippers top-weighted with a lead bead (200, 300, or 400 g). Intervention group participants walked while wearing the slippers for 10-20 min, 1-3 days/week at the day service center. Fall risk was measured using the Berg Balance Scale and the Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) before and at 3-month intervals after the intervention/control phase. Results: After 12 months, the intervention group demonstrated significant improvement. Berg Balance and POMA compared to the control group ( p < .05 p < .01, respectively). Mobility scores improved significantly for both measurements in the intervention group before and after ( p < .01), but the control group had significantly lower scores. Discussion: Overall, falls decreased in the intervention group from 10 to 7, and control group falls increased from 9 to 16 ( p = .02). No adverse events related to the intervention were reported. Conclusions: Rehabilitation training slippers may reduce falls in older adults.

Subjective Evaluation of Balance by the Dizziness Handicap Inventory Does Not Predict Fall Risk in Older Adults Visiting Otolaryngology Clinics

2021 ◽  
pp. 000348942098797
Author(s):  
Iku Abe-Fujisawa ◽  
Yukihide Maeda ◽  
Soshi Takao ◽  
Shin Kariya ◽  
Kazunori Nishizaki
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Postural Balance ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Spontaneous Nystagmus ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Objective Data ◽  
Subjective Symptoms ◽  
Characteristic Analysis ◽  
Dizziness Handicap Inventory

Objectives: Subjective symptoms of dizziness in older adults are affected not only by objective data such as postural balance, but also by complex psychological factors. Published data analyzing how simultaneous evaluations of both objective and subjective assessments of balance can predict fall risk remain lacking. This study examined how fall risk can be predicted based on both objective data for balance and hearing and subjective symptoms of dizziness among older adults visiting otolaryngology clinics. Methods: Medical charts of 76 patients ≥65 years old with dizziness/vertigo who visited the otolaryngology clinic were reviewed. Objective data were evaluated by postural balance (posturographic data with eyes open and closed, and one-leg standing test), spontaneous nystagmus, and mean hearing levels. Subjective handicap associated with dizziness/vertigo was assessed using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). Subjective mental status of anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Information on history (cardiovascular diseases) and fall accidents within the preceding year was collected using an in-house interview sheet. Results: Objective data on postural balance did not correlate with subjective symptoms on DHI or HADS ( P > .05, Pearson’s correlation coefficient). Adjusted logistic regression modeling with the outcome of incident falls revealed that poor postural balance significantly predicted fall risk ( P < .05; 4.9 [1.4-16.8] per 10-cm2 increment). Nystagmus tended to be associated with fall risk. In contrast, DHI score did not predict fall risk ( P = .43; 1.0 [0.9-1.03]). Receiver operating characteristic analysis proposed a cut-off for postural sway with eyes closed >6.1 cm2 as optimal to predict falls in patients with nystagmus (AUC, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.48-0.997). Conclusion: Poor postural balance is associated with increased fall risk after adjusting for subjective symptoms in older adults at otolaryngology clinics. Conversely, the self-perceived dizziness handicap of DHI score is an insufficient tool to evaluate their fall risk.

scholarly journals Medication Prescribed Within 1 Year Preceding Fall-Related Injuries in Older Adults in Ontario, Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 236-236
Author(s):  
Yu Ming ◽  
Aleksandra Zecevic ◽  
Richard Booth ◽  
Susan Hunter ◽  
Andrew Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Head Injuries ◽  
Prescription Medication ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Secondary Health Care ◽  
One Year

Abstract Background: The consequences of fall-related injuries are becoming more significant due to ageing societies worldwide. This study aims to provide information on medications prescribed to older adults within one year before they experienced fall-related injury in Ontario, Canada. Methods: A population-based descriptive study of older adults (66 years and older) who experienced fall-related injury was conducted using administrative secondary health care data of Ontario. The percentages of patients prescribed each Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical 4th level medication class and fall-risk increasing drugs one year before their fall-related injuries was summarized. Results: From 2010 to 2014, 288,251 older adults (63.2% females) were admitted to Emergency Department due to fall-related injury, 39.9% were fall-related fractures, 12.6% were head injuries. One year prior to their injury, 48.46% of older adults were prescribed with statins; 35.23% were prescribed with diuretics; 26.84% were prescribed with antidepressants; 25.90% were prescribed with opioids and 16.61% were prescribed with anxiolytics. A higher percentage of females were prescribed with diuretics, antidepressants, and anxiolytics than males. 85 years and older people had higher percentage of prescription of diuretics, antidepressants and antipsychotics than other age group. Discussion: In general, older adults diagnosed with fall-related injuries were prescribed with more opioids, benzodiazepines and antidepressants than other general older adults. There were distinct patterns of prescription medication within each sex and age group (66-74 group, 75-84 group and 85 years and older group). Further association between medications and fall-related injuries need to be established using well-defined cohort studies.

Fall-related cognition, motor function, functional ability, and depression measures in older adults with dementia

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 487-494
Author(s):  
Hyun-Ju Park ◽  
Nam-Gi Lee ◽  
Tae-Woo Kang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Functional Ability ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Geriatric Depression Scale ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Korean Version ◽  
Risk Of Fall ◽  
Clinical Measurements

BACKGROUND: As the severity of dementia progresses over time, cognition and motor functions such as muscle strength, balance, and gait are disturbed, and they eventually increase the risk of fall in patients with dementia. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between the fall risk and cognition, motor function, functional ability, and depression in older adults with dementia. METHODS: Seventy-four older adults diagnosed with dementia were recruited. Clinical measurements included the Fall Risk Scale by Huh (FSH), Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K), hand grip strength (HGS), Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), 10-m walk test (10-MWT), Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index (MBI-K), and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). RESUTLS: The MMSE-K was significantly correlated with the FSH, HGS, and the MBI-K, and FSH was significantly correlated with all of the other outcome measures. In particular, the MMSE-K, HGS, POMA, and the MBI-K were negatively correlated with fall history among the FHS sub-items. Additionally, the MMSE sub-item, attention/concentration was associated with the FSH, HGS, POMA, and the MBI-K. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that falling is significantly related to impaired cognition, reduced muscle strength, impaired balance, gait, and activities of daily living abilities, and depression in older adults with dementia.

Changes in commitment to change among leaders in home help services

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Westerberg ◽  
Susanne Tafvelin
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Commitment To Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Meetings ◽  
Home Help ◽  
Home Help Services ◽  
One Year ◽  
Over Time

Purpose – The purpose of the this study was to explore the development of commitment to change among leaders in the home help services during organizational change and to study this development in relation to workload and stress. During organizational change initiatives, commitment to change among leaders is important to ensure the implementation of the change. However, little is known of development of commitment of change over time. Design/methodology/approach – The study used a qualitative design with semi-structured interviews with ten leaders by the time an organizational change initiative was launched and follow-up one year later. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the interviews. Findings – Commitment to change is not static, but seems to develop over time and during organizational change. At the first interview, leaders had a varied pattern reflecting different dimensions of commitment to change. One year later, the differences between leaders’ commitment to change was less obvious. Differences in commitment to change had no apparent relationship with workload or stress. Research limitations/implications – The data were collected from one organization, and the number of participants were small which could affect the results on workload and stress in relation to commitment to change. Practical implications – It is important to support leaders during organizational change initiatives to maintain their commitment. One way to accomplish this is to use management team meetings to monitor how leaders perceive their situation. Originality/value – Qualitative, longitudinal and leader studies on commitment to change are all unusual, and taken together, this study shows new aspects of commitment.

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