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Falls and Preventive Practices among Institutionalized Older People
Cristina Lavareda Baixinho1, Carla Madeira2, Silvia Alves2
1Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), 1900-160 Lisbon, Portugal.
Summary
Falls are common in older adults, with over 40% experiencing them. Cognitive decline is linked to poorer safety practices, highlighting the need for targeted fall prevention strategies in long-term care.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Nursing
Background:
- Falls are a significant risk for institutionalized older adults, often linked to complex bio-physiological factors.
- Identifying safety and self-care practices is crucial for developing effective fall prevention measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency and recurrence of falls in institutionalized older adults.
- To investigate the association between falls, cognitive impairment, and safety practices in this population.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative, correlational, longitudinal study was conducted with 204 institutionalized older adults in Portugal.
- The Scale of Practices and Behaviors for Institutionalized Elderly to Prevent Falls was used to assess safety practices.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of falls over 12 months was 41.6%, with 38.3% being recurrent falls.
- Older adults with cognitive decline demonstrated significantly lower mean scores in safety practices.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive decline is associated with reduced safety practices among institutionalized older adults.
- Further research is needed to explore the interplay between communication, safety practices, falls, and fear of falling.
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