What Predicts Falls, and what are the Circumstances and Consequences of Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Who Need Walking Aids or Home Help Service

Susanna Tuvemo Johnson; Elisabeth Anens; Ann-Christin Johansson; Karin Hellström

doi:10.1177/23337214221098900

What Predicts Falls, and what are the Circumstances and Consequences of Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Who Need Walking Aids or Home Help Service

Gerontol Geriatr Med. 2022 Jun 3:8:23337214221098900. doi: 10.1177/23337214221098900. eCollection 2022 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Susanna Tuvemo Johnson¹, Elisabeth Anens¹, Ann-Christin Johansson², Karin Hellström¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Women's and Childrens Health, Physiotherapy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
² School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden.

Abstract

The objective was to analyze predictive variables for falls in older community-dwelling adults who needed walking aids or home help service, to describe the circumstances and consequences of falls and fall injuries, and to describe the activities preceding falls, n = 175, mean age 83 years. Falls were self-reported monthly in a fall calendar and were followed up by a telephone interview. A logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate predictive baseline variables for falls. Injuries were reported in 82 of the 185 fall events. Previous falls and a high level of education had a significant association with falls odds ratios 1.9 (95% CI 1.3-2.7), and 2.7 (95% CI 1.4-5.3). Activities preceding the falls were classified according to the International Classification of Functioning (ICF). Falls and fall injuries were most common while moving around within the home and rising from sitting to standing.

Keywords: accidental falls; circumstances; consequences; frailty; international classification of functioning (ICF); older adults.