特別養護老人ホームの床が転倒・転落骨折に及ぼす影響

Abstract

Data about the incidence of broken bones due to falls from standing height or below (high fall) or from an elevated position (low-height fall) within the past three years was collected from about 66,000 individuals in long-term care and about 10,000 in short-term care at 359 facilities. Analysis of this data revealed the following observations. 1) Per 100 individuals per year, 51.5 individuals receiving long-term care had experienced a high fall, 27.9 had experienced a low-height fall, 2.22 had broken a bone during a high fall, and 0.39 had broken a bone during a low-height fall 2) About 80% of facilities were constructed of reinforced concrete, and about 90% had hard floors, which do not absorb shock well during a fall. 3) Flooring materials in residents' rooms were compared with respect to incidence of broken bones, but no significant difference was observed. However, hard floors had a statistically-determined incidence of broken bones that was about 50% higher compared to other types of floor.