Assessing risk of falling in older adults

Falls by older people present serious problems in every society. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of a checklist in estimation and reduction of the risk for falls for older adults in Taiwan. Following literature review, a purposive sample was used in a cross-sectional design to assess risk factors using a checklist. Older adults (N = 103) were recruited from three sheltered housing projects (elderly apartments in Taipei County); 52 individuals had fallen within the past year. A set of significant risk factors was identified, including physiological, psychological, environmental, and social dimensions. Members of the fall group had shorter Functional Reach and took more time to complete the Get-up and Go test than the control group. Some illnesses and drugs were associated with an increased risk of fall.