Factors associated with the elderly falling in intermediate care facilities

In intermediate care facilities, the records of 41 patients who had fallen and 36 controls were reviewed retrospectively, and the two groups compared for demographics, diagnoses, blood pressures over the prior two months, and prescribed medication. Seven of the sample had a recent weight loss recorded; all seven were in the group that fell. The mean number of medications prescribed for the group of fallers was significantly greater than the mean prescribed for the control group. The mean number of medication changes during the two weeks prior to the fall was significantly greater than the mean number of medication changes during the two weeks prior to data collection for the control group. Our data suggest that caution should be exercised in multiple drug prescribing for patients in intermediate care facilities and that recent weight loss and medication changes may be risk factors for falling.