Abstract
Abstract Objectives: to identify the demographic and clinical profile, context of risk and the occurrence of falls among institutionalized elderly persons; analyze the association between the classification of risk of falling using the Brazilian version of the Morse Fall Scale and the occurrence of falls in such individuals. Method: A cohort study was performed in two long-stay institutions in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The sample consisted of 193 elderly persons. Descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-squared and Fisher tests) were used for analysis. Results: The occurrence of falls was associated with hearing impairment, hand grip strength, Katz Index score, degree of dependence according to Collegial Board Resolution 283/2005 and risk of falls according to the MFS-B. Conclusion: Falls have multifactorial causes, which makes it important to identify the agents that contribute to their occurrence, as it is known that institutionalization significantly increases the risk of falling. Multidisciplinary actions are important for reducing the risk of falls, together with the use of instruments that can predict such risk among institutionalized elderly people.
Highlights
The Brazilian Ministry of Health[1], through Ordinance no 529 dated April 1, 2013, established the National Program for Patient Safety (PNSP) for the monitoring and prevention of harm in healthcare
Regarding time spent in the longterm care facility for the elderly (LTCF), 64 (33.2%) had lived in the facilities for up to two years; 62 (32.1%), from 2.01 to 5.9 years, and 67 (34.7%) had been institutionalized for more than six years
The present study achieves the proposed objectives by describing factors associated with the occurrence of falls in institutionalized elderly persons
Summary
The Brazilian Ministry of Health[1], through Ordinance no 529 dated April 1, 2013, established the National Program for Patient Safety (PNSP) for the monitoring and prevention of harm in healthcare. Nine thematic areas were established for the construction of protocols, guides and manuals for patient safety. One these areas is the prevention of falls. Falls in patients are associated with factors related to both the individual and the environment. Factors related to the individual include advanced age; a recent history of falls; a reduction in mobility; urinary incontinence; use of medications and postural hypotension, while notable among environmental and organizational factors are uneven floors, objects dropped on the floor, inadequate chair height, insufficient or inadequate human resources[3,4]
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