P-55 Environmental factors that contribute to falling among the elderly population in two geriatric homes in Guyana
Author(s):
C Andrews, Warde, F Hamilton, S Henry, S Marks, S Hunter, S Johnson, S Villarreal, E Cummings
Year of Presentation:
2024
Objective: To investigate the prevalence and environmental factors that may contribute to the risk of falls among the elderly population aged 65 years and older in two geriatric homes in Guyana
Methods: A quantitative research was conducted with the use of the Falls Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) and the Home Falls and Accidents Screening Tool (HOME FAST). The relationship between environmental factors and falling were analyzed using a one-sampled T-test and bivariate correlations (Pearson) via Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
Results: In a study involving 110 elderly patients, comprising 54 males and 56 females, factors contributing to falls were examined. It was found that females (56.7%) and individuals aged 70–79 experienced a significant majority of falls. One notable finding was that 53.5% of participants who fell were not taking any medications. The study also identified common environmental hazards such as unsafe floor surfaces (80%; odds ratio (OR) for falls: 1.20 [95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.36]), inadequate lighting (72%; OR: 1.28 [1.09-1.47]), and light switches positioned far from the bed (72%; OR: 1.28 [1.09-1.47]). Falls were most frequently reported in the shower (46.7%) area, followed by the bedroom (26.7%), and the living room (13.3%).
Conclusion: Environmental hazards showed significant associations with falls. The high number of environmental hazards within the two geriatric homes and their association with falling underlines the importance of enhancing environmental safety, and the importance of policy development, allocation of resources, and fall interventions. A significant majority of the study population were mentally stable.