Falls in Nursing Homes

                        Falls in Nursing Homes

Nursing home residents fall frequently. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control/ Prevention and the National Center for Injury Prevention/Control estimate 1,800 older adults living in nursing homes die each year from fall-related injuries and those who survive frequently sustain injuries that result in permanent disability and reduced quality of life.

How big is the problem?

·        More than 1.4 million people 65 and older live in nursing homes.  If current rates continue, by 2030 this number will rise to about 3 million.

·        About 5% of adults 65 and older live in nursing homes, but nursing home residents account for about 20% of deaths from falls in this age group.

·        Each year, a typical nursing home with 100 beds reports 100 to 200 falls. Many falls go unreported.

·        Between half and three-quarters of nursing home residents fall each year. That’s twice the rate of falls among older adults living in the community.

·        Patients often fall more than once. The average is 2.6 falls per person per year.

·        About 35% of fall injuries occur among residents who cannot walk.

 

How can we prevent falls in nursing homes?

Fall prevention in nursing homes presents multiple challenges.  It requires a combination of medical treatment, rehabilitation, and environmental changes.  Fall prevention interventions can be implemented at the organizational, staff or patient levels. The most effective interventions address multiple factors or use a multidisciplinary team.

For detailed information, contact ASCOG (Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments) Ombudsman Supervisors Ruben Sotelo, direct: 580-736-7975, sote_ru@ascog.org, or Darin Terry, direct: 580-736-7974, terr_da@ascog.org, toll free: 1-800-658-1466.