Some features of hospitalized elderly and effects of fall behavior on fall risk

Abstract

Abstract:This study was designed to determine the effects of socio-demographic characteristics of the elderly living in the hospital and on the risks of falling behavior.Methods: This research was descriptive and correlational type. 305 hospitalised elderly patients were included in the study. Elderly information form, the Itaki Fall risk scale, and the Falls Behavioural Scale for the Older Person were used as data collection tool. It was determined that 47.2% of elderly people had history of fall, 62.6% received treatment due to fall, and 14.8% had fractures associated with fall. 64.9% of hospitalised elderly patients had high risk of fall. Total mean score from the Falls Behavioural Scale for the Older Person was 76.4±12.1. According to the study, some characteristics (age, receiving support for personal care, the hospitalization status in the last year, the history of fall etc) of the elderly and fall behaviors were found to be effective on Itaki Fall risk of falling. It was concluded that more than half of hospitalised elderly had risk of fall, elderly people displayed safe/protective behaviours for moderate fall.