Benefits of home visits for falls and autonomy in the elderly: a randomized trial study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether home visits by a occupational therapist reduces the risk of falling and improves the autonomy of older patients hospitalized for falling. DESIGN: In this randomized, controlled trial set in a geriatric hospital, 60 patients (mean age, 83.5 yr) who were hospitalized for falling were recruited from the acute medicine department. A home visit from an occupational therapist and an ergotherapist assessed patients' homes for environmental hazards and recommended modifications. The outcomes measured were falls, autonomy, hospitalization for falling, institutionalization, and death. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, the rate of falls, hospitalization for falls, institutionalization, and death were not significantly different between the two groups. Both groups had a loss of dependence at 12 mo. This loss of dependence was significant in the control group but not in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Home visits from occupational therapists during hospitalization of older patients at risk for falling can help to preserve the patient's autonomy.     

Timed "up & go" test as a predictor of falls within 6 months after hip fracture surgery

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous studies of Timed "Up & Go" Test (TUG) scores as a predictor of falls were based primarily on retrospective data, and no prospective studies of the TUG for predicting falls in people with hip fracture are available. The purpose of this study was to determine whether TUG scores obtained upon discharge from an acute orthopedic hip fracture unit can predict falls in people with hip fracture during a 6-month follow-up period. SUBJECTS: The subjects included in this study were 79 consecutive elderly people who had hip fractures and were able to perform the TUG when discharged directly to their own homes or to assisted living facilities from a specialized acute orthopedic hip fracture unit, with 59 (75%) being able to participate in the follow-up interview. METHODS: In this prospective study, all subjects were contacted for a 6-month follow-up interview about falls since discharge from the hospital. The score on the TUG performed at discharge (median of 10 days after surgery) was compared with the New Mobility Score, which describes functional level before the fracture and mental status on admission, sex, type of fracture, residence, and walking aids before and after the fracture. All subjects followed a well-defined care plan with multimodal fast-track rehabilitation including an intensive physical therapy program comprising 2 daily sessions; discharge was in accordance with standardized criteria. Analyses and correlations of all variables were examined for prediction of falls, and sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likelihood ratios were calculated. Falls were classified as "none" or as "1 or more." RESULTS: Among the 59 subjects in the follow-up group, 19 subjects (32%) experienced 1 or more falls in the period since discharge; 4 of these falls resulted in new hip fractures. The TUG performed at discharge with a cutoff point of 24 seconds was the only parameter that significantly predicted falls during the 6-month follow-up period, with a negative likelihood ratio of 0.1 to be a faller as a non-faller. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the TUG is a sensitive measure for identifying people with hip fracture at risk for new falls, and it should be part of future outcome measures to decide for whom preventive measures against falls should be instituted.     

Feasibility and effectiveness of a nurse-led community exercise programme for prevention of falls among frail elderly people: a multi-centre controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an exercise programme provided by public health nurses is effective in improving physical function and psychological status in elderly people, in reducing falls and risk factors for falls in elderly people, and whether the intervention is a feasible programme within the community. DESIGN: Controlled intervention trial. SUBJECTS: Participants included 144 persons in the intervention group and 124 persons in the control group, who were living at home, aged over 65 years, and with 5 or more risk factors for falls identified using the questionnaire for fall assessment (Suzuki). METHODS: For participants in the intervention group, an exercise programme was provided by public health nurses. This comprised a weekly exercise class of 2 hours for 17 weeks, supplemented by daily home exercises. Number of risk factors, physical function and psychological status were compared between the intervention and control groups before and after intervention. The number of further falls during the intervention was also compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The programme significantly improved physical function and emotional status, and reduced the number of falls and risk factors for falls. The excellent adherence rate represented broad acceptance of the intervention. CONCLUSION: The intervention programme was effective and feasible to operate in the community.     

Fear of falling,falls efficacy,and health outcomes in older people following hip fracture

Purpose : This study sought to determine whether fear of falling and falls efficacy independently contribute to the prediction of health outcomes after a fall, controlling for length of stay in hospital, prefall activity problems, and history of falls. Method : Eighty-two older people ( &#85 65 years) admitted to hospital as a result of a fall, with proximal femoral fracture, were interviewed to assess variables of interest. At two months after initial interview, participants ( n =57) were re-interviewed in their own home, and their functional limitation and further fall events were assessed. Regression analyses were carried out to determine the ability of the variables assessed in hospital to predict functional limitation and further falls post discharge. Results : Perceived risk of falling and falls efficacy did not explain variance in functional limitation when added to a model containing biomedical factors. In the prediction of further falls, addition of falls efficacy and worry over further falls to a model containing biomedical factors resulted in a statistically reliable improvement, although falls efficacy was not independently associated with outcome. Conclusions : Assessing worry over further falls in hospital may help to identify older people with hip fracture at risk of poor health outcomes.     

Proximal femoral fractures in the elderly: pathogenesis, sequelae, interventions]

Hip fractures are a health problem of paramount importance for the individual and society. They are associated with a sharp increase of the incidence of immobility, dependency, nursing home placement, and death. In Germany, more than 100,000 elderly suffer a hip fracture every year. 90% of fractures of the proximal femur result from a fall with an impact near the hip. The kinetic energy of a fall from standing height without successful protective reactions is far above the fracture threshold of a femur in a man aged 70 and older, regardless of osteoporosis and sex. Therefore, propensity to fall and mechanisms of falling are more important in the pathogenesis of hip fracture than bone mineral density alone. The combination of age-associated gait and balance disorders, which increase the probability of falls, and age-related decreasing strength of the femur is responsible for the high incidence of hip fractures. Besides the interventions to reduce the fall frequency it is possible to decrease the number of hip fractures by a passive protection of the trochanter. An energy-shunting protector (crash helmet-like, hip padding) has been developed by Lauritzen and Lund (safehip). The protector consists of two stiff shells, sewn into special undergarment. The shells disperse the impact away from the trochanter to soft tissue, and increase the area of contact. A controlled study among nursing home residents has demonstrated a relative risk of hip fracture of 0.44 (95% CC 0.21 to 0.94) in the intervention group, i.e., the protector has reduced the number of hip fractures by more than a half. No hip fracture has happened during use of the protector. Using the protector can improve self-confidence and diminish self-restraint of physical activity, which is not rarely caused by fear of falling. Further investigations of compliance are necessary.     

Fear of falling,falls efficacy,and health outcomes in older people following hip fracture

Purpose : This study sought to determine whether fear of falling and falls efficacy independently contribute to the prediction of health outcomes after a fall, controlling for length of stay in hospital, prefall activity problems, and history of falls.

Method : Eighty-two older people ( ≥65 years) admitted to hospital as a result of a fall, with proximal femoral fracture, were interviewed to assess variables of interest. At two months after initial interview, participants ( n =57) were re-interviewed in their own home, and their functional limitation and further fall events were assessed. Regression analyses were carried out to determine the ability of the variables assessed in hospital to predict functional limitation and further falls post discharge.

Results : Perceived risk of falling and falls efficacy did not explain variance in functional limitation when added to a model containing biomedical factors. In the prediction of further falls, addition of falls efficacy and worry over further falls to a model containing biomedical factors resulted in a statistically reliable improvement, although falls efficacy was not independently associated with outcome.

Conclusions : Assessing worry over further falls in hospital may help to identify older people with hip fracture at risk of poor health outcomes.     

社区中危以上跌倒风险老年人护理干预效果的评价

目的探讨护理干预在预防社区中危以上跌倒风险老年人跌倒中的应用方法及效果。方法 2015年1-12月,采用便利抽样法选取上海市南码头街道某居委中危以上跌倒风险的老年人100例为研究对象,实施入户跌倒危险因素分析与个性化护理干预措施,采用老年人跌倒风险评估量表、跌倒预防知-信-行问卷及跌倒居家环境危险因素评估表对干预效果进行调查。结果干预后,社区中危以上跌倒风险老年人的跌倒发生率及跌倒风险评分低于干预前、跌倒预防知-信-行评分高于干预前、跌倒环境危险因素评分低于干预前,差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。结论个性化的跌倒危险因素分析与护理干预可以提高社区中危以上跌倒风险老年人的跌倒预防知-信-行,减少环境危险因素,有效预防跌倒的发生。     

Incidence of and risk factors for falls following hip fracture in community-dwelling older adults

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hip fracture is a major medical problem among older adults, leading to impaired balance and gait and loss of functional independence. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of and risk factors for falls 6 months following hospital discharge for a fall-related hip fracture in older adults. SUBJECTS: Ninety of 100 community-dwelling older adults (> or =65 years of age) hospitalized for a fall-related hip fracture provided data for this study. METHODS: An observational cohort study used interviews and medical records to obtain information on demographics, prefracture health, falls, and functional status. Self-report of falls and performance-based measures of balance and mobility were completed 6 months after discharge. RESULTS: A total of 53.3% of patients (48/90) reported 1 or more falls in the 6 months after hospitalization. Older adults who fell following discharge had greater declines in independence in activities of daily living and lower performance on balance and mobility measures. Prefracture fall history and use of a gait device predicted postdischarge falls. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Falls following hip fracture can be predicted by premorbid functional status.     

延伸护理在老年髋部骨折患者术后康复中的应用

目的:探讨延伸护理服务在老年髋部骨折术后康复中的应用效果。方法:将42例老年髋部骨折患者随机分为观察组22例和对照组20例,对照组患者出院时给予健康指导,观察组患者给予建立出院家庭访视档案,分别于出院后1周和出院后1,2,3个月进行家庭访视,给予心理护理、下肢功能锻炼、生活自理能力指导,3个月后比较两组患者焦虑发生率、下肢功能活动情况及生活自理能力等。结果:观察组患者焦虑发生率低于对照组(P0.05),下肢活动情况、生活自理能力均优于对照组(P均0.05)。结论:对老年髋部骨折患者出院后进行家庭访视康复指导,能延伸健康教育及提供优质护理服务,提高患者出院后康复治疗依从性及生活自理能力,减少并发症,从而促进患者康复。     

强化教育与定期访问对居家老年糖尿病患者血糖的影响

目的:探讨强化教育与定期访问对居家老年糖尿病患者血糖的影响。方法:将60例出院后老年糖尿病患者随机分为干预组和对照组各30例。干预组出院后给予8课时集中强化培训,以后每周电话随访1次,每月家庭访视1次;对照组不给予特殊干预措施。结果:两组干预前空腹血糖(FBG)、餐后2 h血糖(2 hPBG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1C)比较差异无统计学意义,4个月后干预组各项生化指标较干预前及同期对照组患者指标显著下降(P<0.01),而对照组各项生化指标较前无明显变化。结论:以护士为主的强化教育与定期电话访问和家访相结合对居家老年糖尿病患者干预效果满意。     

Missed diagnoses among elderly patients discharged from an accident and emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how often elderly patients are discharged from an accident and emergency (A&E) department with unrecognized but remediable problems. METHODS: Over a period of six months, 174 elderly patients fulfilling inclusion criteria for the study were discharged from A&E, and of these 97 (56%) agreed to be reviewed in the day hospital. They were assessed by a doctor, nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, and social worker. A full blood count, urea and electrolytes, liver and thyroid function tests, a chest radiograph, and an electrocardiogram were performed. A Barthel activity of daily living index was performed on the first visit and before discharge. RESULTS: 28% had missed diagnoses which benefited from day hospital attendance and a further 13 patients had been admitted before they could attend day hospital. Those patients presenting with falls and living alone constituted a high risk group. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients attending A&E merit special consideration to detect underlying medical or social problems.     

奥塔戈运动在预防出院后老年脑卒中患者跌倒中的应用效果

目的 研究奥塔戈运动对出院后老年脑卒中患者跌倒效能、平衡能力、生活自理能力和跌倒发生情况的影响。方法 选取我院神经内科2018.7.1～2020.6.30符合研究标准的出院患者80例随机分为观察组和对照组,每组40例,在院期间对2组患者均进行常规防跌倒措施,出院后均进行常规电话、微信及门诊随访,观察组在对照组基础上接受6个月的奥塔戈运动（OEP）干预。比较两组患者在干预前后跌倒效能、平衡能力、生活自理能力和跌到发生的情况,评价奥塔戈运动在预防出院后老年脑卒中患者跌倒中的效果。结果 干预前两组患者跌倒效能、平衡能力、Barthel生活自理能力评分及跌倒发生率比较,均无差异(P>0.05),干预6个月后,观察组与对照组,跌倒效能、平衡能力、Barthel生活自理能力评分与干预前比较,均有改善(P<0.05),且观察组的改善更为明显(P<0.05),而跌倒发生率无明显差异（P>0.05）。结论 6个月的奥塔戈运动干预,能够提高出院后老年脑卒中患者的跌倒效能、平衡能力和生活自理能力,但能否降低跌倒发生率,有待进一步研究。     

家庭干预对预防老年高血压患者跌倒的影响

目的探讨家庭干预对预防老年高血压患者跌倒的影响。方法将100例老年高血压患者分为试验组和对照组,每组各50例,对照组患者出院后定期到门诊复诊,试验组在此基础上实施家庭干预,内容包括认知、心理、行为和环境干预。比较两组患者跌倒发生率以及跌倒损伤程度的差异。结果试验组患者跌倒发生率低于对照组;跌倒后,试验组患者软组织损伤发生率低于对照组,两组比较,均P<0.05,差异具有统计学意义。结论实施家庭干预对预防老年高血压患者跌倒的发生及减轻跌倒后的损伤程度具有积极的作用。     

Risk factors for cervical and trochanteric hip fracture during a fall on the hip

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to elucidate factors related to hip fracture in patients who fall on the hip in order to identify those patients who might benefit from the use of hip protectors. DESIGN: The study was performed by comparing 146 persons who had fallen and sustained a soft tissue injury in the hip region with 146 cervical hip fracture and 146 trochanteric hip fracture patients matched for age, sex and place of residence. PATIENTS: The fall group was drawn from a prospectively collected cohort of 1,061 elderly people participating in an epidemiological survey on fall injuries; the fracture group was drawn from a prospectively recorded hip fracture database of the Oulu University Hospital (n = 1,714). OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic data, place and mechanism of falling, walking ability, associated diseases, medication. RESULTS: In a stepwise polychotomous conditional logistic regression analysis, the following significant and independent risk factors for both fracture types were seen: low weight, tall height, falling from standing height and respiratory disease. Falling indoors was a risk for only trochanteric fractures, while inability to walk alone outdoors was a risk for only cervical hip fractures. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly persons with low weight, tall height, respiratory disease, tendency to fall indoors and inability to walk alone outdoors should be candidates for the use of hip protectors.     

跌倒风险管理在预防社区老年人群跌倒中的应用

目的：探讨跌倒风险管理团队在提高社区老年人群防跌倒能力中的效果。方法：将60例社区老年人群随机分为管理组和对照组各30例。对照组老年人进行日常小区的娱乐健身活动,管理组除对照组的活动外,还接受跌倒风险管理：疾病筛查、药物指导、健康教育、功能训练、家居环境的改造。分别于初评时、干预第4周及第8周3个时期对受试者进行Tinetti步态和平衡测试、修订版跌倒效能量表（MFES）测试。结果：干预后第4周、第8周,管理组Tinetti步态和平衡测试均较干预前明显提高（P<0.01）,但干预4周和8周时差异无统计学意义,干预后第4周、第8周,管理组MFES评分均不断提高（P<0.01）,对照组干预前后2种评分差异均无统计学意义,干预后各时间点管理组以上2种评分均更高于对照组（P<0.01）。结论：及早发现有跌倒风险的社区老年人群,给予及时跌倒风险管理干预,能提高社区老年人群的防跌倒能力,缓解恐惧跌倒的心理,提高生活质量。     

A randomized clinical trial of the effectiveness of a discharge planning intervention in hospitalized elders with hip fracture due to falling

Aim. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a discharge plan in hospitalized elderly patients with hip fracture due to falling. Background. Hip fractures are an important cause of morbidity and mortality among older people. Hip fracture patients require ongoing medical and long‐term care services. Discharge plan services can play a very important role for these patients, since the services improved their outcome conditions. Methods. Hip fracture patients aged 65 years and older (n = 126), hospitalized due to falling and discharged from a medical centre in northern Taiwan, were randomly assigned to either a comparison group (the routine care) or experimental group (the discharge planning intervention). The outcomes used to determine the effectiveness of the intervention were: length of hospitalized stay, rate of readmission, repeat falls and survival, and activities of daily living. Results. The discharge planning intervention decreased length of stay, rate of readmission and rate of survival and improved activities of daily living for intervention group compared with those of control group. Mean total SF‐36 scores of patients in the experimental group were higher than for the control group and both groups had improved quality of life. Conclusion. The discharge planning benefited older people with hip fractures. Relevance to clinical practice. A discharge planning intervention by a nurse can improve physical outcomes and quality of life in hip fracture patients.     

Clinical prediction of falls in the elderly

OBJECTIVE: To assess the ability of physical and occupational therapists engaged in rehabilitation of the elderly to predict posttreatment falls. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study of 15 mo in duration at an urban academic medical center rehabilitation unit. A total of 165 consecutively admitted geriatric individuals were rated for fall risk by 14 physical and seven occupational therapists. Measurements included the Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, FIM, and therapists' ratings of fall likelihood. RESULTS: Both disciplines evidenced an ability to predict who would fall in the 3 mo after discharge. Clinical judgment regarding fall risk, however, added little value over two major predictors of future falls, fall history and the presence of a neurologic condition. CONCLUSION: Trying to predict an infrequent future event such as falls is inherently difficult. Education regarding known fall-risk factors and inclusion of standardized measurements of physical status are recommended to potentially improve rates of detection, along with adoption of a realistic attitude regarding our abilities to forecast infrequent events.     

Effect of a Practice Guideline for Emergency Department Care of Falls in Elder Patients on Subsequent Falls and Hospitalizations for Injuries

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a practice guideline for the ED management of falls in community-dwelling elders on selected health outcomes. METHODS: The experimental design was a prepost-intervention comparison with one-year pre- and post-intervention phases. The guideline was presented to emergency physicians and nurses during a two-week interval between these two periods. The intervention also included health information provided to the subjects and a one-time educational intervention directed at primary care providers. The number of falls in the year following the ED visit was determined by telephone interview. The number of hospitalizations for falls was determined from the HMO database of all health care encounters. RESULTS: 1,899 patients were eligible for the study; 1,140 pre-intervention and 759 post-intervention patients. Of these, 1,504 (79%) were interviewed by telephone 12 to 15 months after their initial ED visits. Eighteen percent of the pre-intervention and 21% of the post-intervention subjects reported at least one fall in the 12 months following their ED visits (p = 0.162). The rate of falls per 100 patient years was 36.2 in both groups. Three percent of both groups were hospitalized at least once for a fall in the year following their ED visits. One percent in each group were hospitalized for a hip fracture. CONCLUSIONS: The attempted implementation of a practice guideline for the ED management of falls in community-dwelling elders did not result in a reduction in total falls, or in hospitalizations for falls, injuries, or fractures.     

Screening,education, and associated behavioral responses to reduce risk for falls among people over age 65 years attending a community health fair

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Because of the high risk of falling and the recognition that falling is a "geriatric syndrome," screening for risk of falls has become popular at community health fairs. The purposes of this study were to determine whether health fair screening and educational intervention would result in behaviors that could reduce the risk of falls and to determine whether adoption of risk-reduction behaviors differed between people over age 65 years screened as being at high risk for falls and those screened as being at lower risk for falls. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The Berg Balance Test was used to classify fall risk in 68 individuals aged 57 to 89 years who were attending a community health fair. A score of 45 or lower led to a categorization of the person being at high risk for falls. All subjects were provided recommendations intended to reduce fall risk. Participants were interviewed by telephone 30 days after the screening to assess implementation of these recommendations. RESULTS: Seventy-two percent of the participants reported implementing at least one risk-reduction behavior. The high-risk group was more likely to implement risk-reduction behaviors than the low-risk group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Screening and education in a health fair setting appear to promote behaviors that could reduce fall risk among elderly people. Future study with a control group that does not receive an educational intervention is needed to draw more definite conclusions about the value of this health promotion activity for fall prevention.