Authors

1Diego Carrera Martínez, 2Beatriz Braña Marcos

Position

¹Enfermero del Departamento de Enfermería. Residencia de Ancianos El Cristo. ²Unidad de Investigación. Enfermera de la Fundación Hospital Jove, Asturias (España).

Contact address

Diego Carrera Martínez. CPR Clara Ferrer. Puerto Leitariegos,1. 33207 Gijón (Asturias).

Contact email: xdcmx@hotmail.com

Abstract

Objective: to determine the circumstances defining the falls and the characteristics of the affected residents and to assess their consequences.
Methods: cross-sectional and retrospective study of falls recorded in the Nursing Home The Christ (Oviedo) between april 15, 2007 and april 15, 2008. Were determined and defined variables related to each of the three objectives: circumstances of the fall, residents characteristics and consequences of the fall. Data sources were the falls registry of the nursing­ home, the medical history and the nursing notes.
Results: of a total of 155 residents, 188 falls were recorded in 67 (43,22%) residents, of which 58,21% had more than one fall. The mean age was 86 years, 71,28% were women, 86,17% had associated diseases, and s 84,04% was on some sort of treatment acting on the CNS or on hypotensive treatment. 40,42% of falls occurred in the morning and in public­ areas. 15,9% of falls occurred in wheelchair users that did not use abdominal restrains. The majority of the falls did not have consequences (72,87%), but e 7,44% had serious consequences in the long term.
Conclusions: the incidence of falls is high; reducing the number of falls and complications requires the maintenance of adequate control of modi­fiable risk factors and the use of restrictive measures as well as the development of geriatric exercise programs.

Keywords:

Accident prevention; accidental falls; elderlygeriatric residence

Versión en Español

Título:

Evaluación de caídas en ancianos institucionalizados