Abstract
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to retrospectively clarify the factors related to falls and tumbles occurring over three years in a long-term care facility. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 285 elderly residents with a history of falls in the past three years. The features of falls by subjects with low and high care needs were compared. [Results] Falls and tumbles were frequently observed among subjects with third- or fourth-grade care needs, elderly women with dementia and musculoskeletal disease, and subjects with muscle weakness, contracture of the lower limbs, or physical pain. Also, many of the fallers used a wheelchair and needed assistance with items of ADL. [Conclusion] The results suggest that many falls and tumbles are experienced by subjects with high care needs. More work is needed to compare fallers with non-faller subjects.
