Factors related to falls among the elderly in long-term care facilities

Falls in long-term health care facilities are a major human and economic problem. Research is needed to determine the factors contributing to falls among elderly patients in long-term care facilities. The purpose of this study is to determine contributing factors of falls. In particular, the relationship between gait, balance, cognitive functioning and falls will be examined. A prospective study will explore the occurrence and distribution of falls among two comparison groups of elderly residents, one with dementia and one without dementia, in one long-term care facility over a one-year period. A sample of 140 residents will be assessed and charts or records will be reviewed. The Ball State University Institutional Review Board and the participating long-term care facility will approve the study. The rights of human subjects will be protected. Data will be collected from patient assessments, incident reports and patient medical records and will remain confidential. Data will be analyzed descriptively and predictively. Findings may increase nurses' understanding of fall incidents among residents within long-term care facilities, with resulting recommendations for improvements in assessing risk factors and designing fall prevention programs.School of Nursing"July, 2004."Thesis (M.S.