Background: Fall-related injuries result in significant physical and psychological suffering to the affected individuals. The physical environment is considered to have an important role in falls.
Purpose: To conduct extensive review of and synthesize related literature, and to develop a conceptual framework to explain the relationship among falls, the physical environment, and older adults.
Methods: Review of the literature was conducted to examine: (a) link between environmental hazards and falls, (b) efficacy of home-modification interventions, and (c) role of the physical environment in falls of people with cognitive impairment.
Results: A strong link between environmental hazards and the risk of falls has yet to be established. A conceptual framework is presented that proposes that an individual's risk for falls can be determined by the interaction of three main factors: mobility, risk-taking behaviour, and physical environment.
Implications: Environmental interventions should be combined with other interventions such as exercise programs and education.