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Falls amongst institutionalised psycho-geriatric patients.
1Department of Adult Psychiatry, Woodbridge Hospital/Institute of Mental Health, Singapore. dominic.lim@chmeds.ac.nz
Singapore Medical Journal
|March 5, 2002
Summary
Elderly psycho-geriatric patients often fall due to aging, illness, and environmental factors. Key risk factors include advanced age, multiple medications, and changes in mental status, necessitating refined prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- Falls are a prevalent yet understudied issue in psycho-geriatric wards.
- Falls in elderly patients can lead to significant morbidity, increased institutionalization, and mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the contributing factors, morbidity, and outcomes of falls in institutionalized psycho-geriatric patients.
- To refine preventive strategies for falls in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective data collection from four psycho-geriatric wards over one year.
- Comparison of patients who fell with a control group who did not fall.
Main Results:
- Patients over 75 years old, on three or more medications, with recent medication or mental status changes were more likely to fall.
- Approximately one-third of fallers experienced recurrent falls.
- The incidence of serious injury and mortality among fallers was low.
Conclusions:
- Falls in psycho-geriatric patients result from a multifactorial interplay of aging, physical illness, psychotropic medication, mental status changes, and environmental factors.
- Targeted interventions addressing these specific risk factors are crucial for fall prevention.