Falls in institutionalized older adults: risks, consequences and antecedents

• Autor(a) principal: Araújo Neto,Antonio Herculano de
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Outros Autores: Patrício,Anna Cláudia Freire de Araújo, Ferreira,Milenna Azevedo Minhaqui, Rodrigues,Brenda Feitosa Lopes, Santos,Thayná Dias dos, Rodrigues,Thays Domingos de Brito, Silva,Richardson Augusto Rosendo da
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-71672017000400719
• topic: Accidental Falls; Homes for the Aged; Risk; Aged; Nursing

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the occurrence of falls in institutionalized elderly addressing the risks, consequences and antecedents. Method: Cross-sectional study carried out with 45 older adults in Long-Term Care Facilities for the Older adult in João Pessoa, Brazil, in June and July 2016. A socio-demographic questionnaire and the Berg Balance Scale were applied, classifying as risk of fall scores lower than 45. Descriptive statistics and tests were conducted: independent t-test, Anova (Tukey), Chi-square, Mann Whitney. Statistically significance was p <0.05. Data were processed in SPSS version 19.0. Results: A total of 66.7% (30) falls occurred, 20% (9) of them in the external area, with 66.7% (30) of the participants having hypertension as a previous disease and, as consequence, the fracture was highlighted with 11.2% (5). The Berg Scale had different scores when compared to the falls suffered by the elderly and previous diseases influenced the occurrence of falls (p <0.05). Conclusion: It is necessary to implement public financing policies or partnerships that allow environments adaptations aiming at reducing the risks of falls.