Rate of Falls and the Correlation Among the Frail Elderly Living at Home

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to determine the rate of and the circumstances related to falls among the frail elderly living at home who have some difficulties in their daily life. Distribution survey by home helpers were carried out in 1995. Subjects for the survey were 128 elderly residents aged 60 and above. Results obtained were as follows ; 1) The rate of falls during the preceding year was 47.8% in men and 59.7% in women. 2) A rate of 55.7% of all falls occured indoors. The cause of falls was mainly intrinsic rather than extrinsic. 3) Fall related injuries were observed in 81.2%. Fractures resulting in being bedridden was higher in women than in men. 4) Logistic regression analysis showed that the history of osteoporosis was significantly associated with the increased risk of falling.