Injuries of the elderly in institutional nursing care

Pogostost padcev in posledično poškodb s starostjo narašča zaradi različnih vzrokov oz. spremljevalcev starosti, kot so starostno slabšanje vida, motenje ravnotežja, osteoporozne spremembe okostja, kronične bolezni, zdravila, pa tudi premajhna telesna dejavnost. Preprečevanje poškodb v starosti je preprečevanje padcev in njihovih posledic, ki bistveno poslabšajo kakovost življenja starejšega človeka. Zmanjša se funkcijska sposobnost, poveča se strah pred ponovnim padcem in zaradi tega omejevanje dejavnosti. Večja je odvisnost in izguba samostojnosti, poveča pa se tudi umrljivost zaradi poškodb. V diplomskem delu smo predstavili najpogostejše bolezni gibal v starosti ter dejavnike tveganja za poškodbo. Omejili smo se tudi na padce in njihove posledice, zdravljenje in rehabilitacijo. Ugotovljeno je, da je najvažnejša vloga medicinske sestre pri preprečevanju padcev in poškodb z njenim poznavanjem dejavnikov tveganja ter njeno vlogo ocenjevanja. V raziskovalnem delu smo na osnovi ocene tveganja za padec skušali ugotoviti, v katero skupino tveganja sodijo posamezni stanovalci in katera prevladuje. Zanimalo nas je tudi, ali imajo starostniki, pri katerih je stabilnost hoje zmanjšana in uporabljajo pripomočke za gibanje, večje tveganje za padec, prav tako kognitivne funkcije. Ugotovili smo, da ima večina stanovalcev visoko tveganje za padec in poškodbo. Prav tako se poveča tveganje pri tistih, pri katerih je stabilnost hoje zmanjšana, čeprav uporabljajo pripomočke za hojo. Kot samostojen vzrok za padec so se izkazale tudi spremenjene kognitivne funkcije.The frequency of falls and consequently injuries increases with age due to different reasons. Falls accompany the age like sight deterioration with age, balance disorder, osteoporotic changes in bones, chronic diseases, medication and lack of physical activity. Injury prevention in old age is to prevent falls and their consequences, which significantly decrease the quality of life of older people. The functional ability decreases, the fear of further falls increases and consequently the limitation of activity. These individuals become more dependent, lose their independency and the mortality due to injuries increases. In the thesis we presented the most common diseases of the muscular system in old age and risk factors for injuries. We also limited ourselves to falls and their consequences, treatment and rehabilitation. We found out that a nurse plays the most important role in preventing falls and injuries with her knowledge on risk factors and her evaluation role. In the research part we tried to find out into which risk group belong individual residents based on the assessment of the risk for falling and which group is the largest. We also wanted to find out, whether older people with decreased walking stability which use mobility aids are at a higher risk to fall, and also their cognitive functions. We found out, that the majority of residents is at high risk to fall and get injured. The risk increases in those with decreased walking stability, although they use mobility aids. As an independent cause for falls also appeared altered cognitive functions