Abstract
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to predict the factors related to falls among nursing home residents. [Subjects] The subjects were 34 elderly residents of a geriatric health services facility. [Methods] A four-month prospective study was done. Items for measurement were selected based on the Modified Stroop Test (MST), the Trail Making Test, the Revised Edition of the Simplified Hasegawa Intelligence Scale, and the Fall-related Behavior Check List. Other surveys included levels of care required and fall experience in the six months prior to the tests. [Results] Significant differences were observed between the fall group and the no-fall group in MST scores, the number of risk behaviors as determined by the Fall-related Behavior Check List and fall experience in the previous six months. [Conclusion] The results suggest that MST scores, the number of risk behaviors and fall experience in the last six months are useful measurements for predicting falls.
