Analysis of Risk Factors for Falls in the Elderly with Dementia

Abstract

We conducted a prospective study on the actual state of fall occurrence and the related fall factors of some dementia patients admitted to a certain geriatric hospital. Information on falls was obtained from the fall assessment recorded by staff. The number of these subjects totaled 110 (20 males and 90 females), The period of this study was 6 months. Their fall rate during that period was as high as 56%. The frequently occurring places and peak time of fall coincided with the places and times slots in which their activity was enhanced. Most of the injuries suffered due to falls were minor ones, and there were no bone fractures stemming from falls. As for the factors related to a fall, sex, age, complication, MMS score and administered internal medicine was no significant between fallers and nonfallers. Of the subjects affected with cerebrovascular diseases during or before this study period, those with vascular dementia showed the most remarkable trend to fall. It was thought that the results will be useful when applied to the carried out care of elderly persons with dementia.