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15 - Prevention of falls in hospitals and residential aged care facilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 May 2010

Stephen R. Lord ,
Catherine Sherrington ,
Hylton B. Menz  and
Jacqueline C. T. Close
Stephen R. Lord
Affiliation:
Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney
Catherine Sherrington
Affiliation:
University of Sydney
Hylton B. Menz
Affiliation:
Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney and La Trobe University, Melbourne
Jacqueline C. T. Close
Affiliation:
Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney and Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney
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Summary

Many of the risk factors and prevention strategies outlined in previous chapters are also relevant to falls among hospital patients, and residents of hostels and nursing homes. This chapter discusses risk factors for falling which seem to be particularly important within hospitals and residential aged care facilities. There have been many programmes developed which aim to reduce falls in institutional settings and a number of these have now been evaluated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This chapter outlines the results of trials conducted to date and discusses programme features likely to be important for preventing falls in institutional settings.

Incidence and risk factors

Hospitals

Falls among inpatients are a key issue for hospitals. Falls in hospitals increase morbidity, prolong hospital stays, and strain the resources of the healthcare system, family and community. Up to one-quarter of people fall during their time in a rehabilitation hospital or ward. These figures are even higher for particular diagnoses. Up to 40 % of stroke patients fall while in a rehabilitation unit.

Many falls in hospitals occur around patients' bedside and ward area, with up to 43 % of falls occurring from (or near) patients' beds. Peak periods for patient falls coincide with peak periods of patient activity. A number of studies have found falls to be associated with getting in and out of beds and chairs, walking, and toileting.

Type
Chapter
Information
Falls in Older People
Risk Factors and Strategies for Prevention
 , pp. 311 - 332
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2007

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