Abstract
The purpose of study was to clarify the course of falls among elderly people with dementia and progression of disorders in relation to the falls. Data on cases of falls by 44 residents of a nursing home over a period of 3 years were used for the analysis. The subjects were divided into three groups according to the repeatability of falls: frequent (>4 times per 6-month) falls (n=20) , occasional (<3 times) falls, and no falls (n=8). "Frequent falls" group had more advanced dementia and lower ADL than those of the other two groups. Although the state of dementia and ADL disability in "occasional falls" guoup were not severe, the progression of these was rapid. Ten of the subjects who died during the 3-year period were experienced falls (9 were in the "frequent falls" group). These subjects were bedridden for up to 7 months before death, during which time complications such as physical signs, urinary incontinece and dysphagia. The results suggest that the frequency of falls may be a sign of atrophy.
