What Factors Predict Falls in Older Adults Living in Nursing Homes: A Pilot Study

Background: In community-dwelling older adults, slow gait speed is linked to falls; however, little is known about the use of gait speed to predict falls in nursing home residents. The prevalence of risk factors for falls in nursing home residents is multifactorial. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between falls and multiple factors such as age, sex, gait speed, mobility device, fear of falling, cognitive function, medication, and environmental causes in a nursing home setting. Material and Methods: Participants were recruited from a nursing home. Independent variables such as age, sex, gait speed for 40 feet, use of a mobility device, fear of falls, cognitive function, medication, and environmental causes of falls were measured and recorded. The dependent variable was falls. Participants were followed-up for a period of six months for falls. Falls were documented from the computerized medical records at the facility. Results: Five of the 16 participants had falls in the follow-up period. Exact logistic regression, bivariate analysis, showed no significant relationship between falls and the independent variables of age, sex, gait speed, mobility device, fear of falls, cognitive function, and medication. More than 30% of recorded falls had an environmental cause, which was significant at p = 0.0005. Conclusion: Environmental causes had a significant relationship with falls in nursing home participants. Environment hazard monitoring is therefore important to ensure the safety of nursing home residents.

Download Full-text

Association of body composition with functional capacity and cognitive function in older adults living in nursing homes

Current Aging Science ◽

10.2174/1874609814666210831155002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

Author(s):

Pinelopi Stavrinou ◽

George Aphamis ◽

Eleni Andreou ◽

Marios Pantzaris ◽

Christoforos Giannaki

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Body Composition ◽

Nursing Home ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Nursing Homes ◽

Body Fat ◽

Functional Capacity ◽

Handgrip Strength ◽

Nursing Home Residents ◽

Sit To Stand

Objective: Older adults living in nursing homes have an increased risk of adverse outcomes. However, the role of body composition in vital health and quality of life parameters such as functional capacity and cognitive function is less studied in this group of older adults compared to community-dwelling counterparts. Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the association of body composition with functional capacity and cognitive function in nursing home residents. Methods: Fifty-three older adults (82.8±7.3 years) were enrolled in this study and they underwent body composition evaluation, functional capacity and cognitive function measurements. Results: The results showed a high prevalence of obesity accompanied by functional capacity limitations and cognitive impairment in older adults living in nursing homes. Partial correlations, controlling for age, showed that body fat percentage was positively correlated with sit-to-stand-5 (r=0.310, p=0.025) and timed-up-and-go (r=0.331, p=0.017), and negatively correlated with handgrip strength test results (r=-0.431, p<0.001), whereas greater lean body mass was associated with better sit-to-stand-5 (r=-0.410, p=0.003), handgrip strength (r=0.624, p<0.001) and cognitive function performance (r=0.302, p=0.037). Conclusions: These important associations reinforce the need to develop effective healthy lifestyle interventions targeting both lean mass and body fat to combat functional and cognitive decline in nursing home residents.

Download Full-text

The effects of a control-enhancing intervention for nursing home residents: Cognition and locus of control as moderators

Palliative & Supportive Care ◽

10.1017/s1478951500000018 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 111-120 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

CAY ANDERSON-HANLEY ◽

SARAH R. MESHBERG ◽

MELISSA A. MARSH

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Nursing Home ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Locus Of Control ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Comparison Group ◽

Nursing Home Residents ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Perceived Health

Objective: This study aimed to clarify which older adults benefit most from a control-enhancing intervention; in particular, whether cognitive functioning or locus of control might moderate the benefit derived.Methods: Nursing home residents were randomly assigned to two conditions: (1) a control-enhanced condition that provided the option of caring for a plant (n = 10), and (2) a comparison condition that monitored any change under the standard of care (n = 10). Comparison group participants were subsequently offered the intervention, which led to a total of 17 intervention participants.Results: Cognitive function and locus of control were found to significantly moderate the effects of the control-enhancing intervention on residents' perceived health competency, but not depression or life satisfaction.Significance of results: Interventions for nursing home residents could be tailored to fit specific needs. Screening for cognitive function and locus of control may help predict who is likely to benefit from control-enhancing interventions.

Download Full-text

Deficits in Selective Attention Alter Gait in Frail Older Adults

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000137 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 29-36 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Véronique Cornu ◽

Jean-Paul Steinmetz ◽

Carine Federspiel

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Nursing Home ◽

Selective Attention ◽

Dual Task ◽

Nursing Home Residents ◽

Gait Rehabilitation ◽

Rehabilitation Programs ◽

Gait Parameters ◽

Growing Body ◽

Task Conditions

Abstract. A growing body of research demonstrates an association between gait disorders, falls, and attentional capacities in older adults. The present work empirically analyzes differences in gait parameters in frail institutionalized older adults as a function of selective attention. Gait analysis under single- and dual-task conditions as well as selective attention measures were collected from a total of 33 nursing-home residents. We found that differences in selective attention performances were related to the investigated gait parameters. Poorer selective attention performances were associated with higher stride-to-stride variabilities and a slowing of gait speed under dual-task conditions. The present findings suggest a contribution of selective attention to a safe gait. Implications for gait rehabilitation programs are discussed.

Download Full-text