Home accidents in older people: role of primary health care team.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence and nature of unreported and reported home accidents in older people and to investigate associated environmental factors.


METHODS
Postal questionnaire requesting information on home accidents in the preceding month.


METHODS
Inner London general practice.


METHODS
All registered patients aged over 65 years (n = 1662), of whom 120 were inappropriately registered and 1293 responded.


METHODS
Circumstances and consequences of accidents in the home.


RESULTS
108 accidents were recorded in 100 patients, giving a home accident rate of 84/1000 patients, equivalent to an annual rate of 1002/1000. 73 accidents were falls, and 83 were unreported. Of the 25 reported accidents, 19 were reported to general practice and six to accident and emergency departments (5.6% of all events). Rates of home accidents increased with age and were higher in women than men (79/819 upsilon 29/474; chi 2 = 4.5, df = 1, p less than 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of home accidents in people aged over 65 years was high but few events were reported to medical services. General practice provided the main contact for patients who reported home accidents, and primary care workers have important opportunities for advising elderly patients on home accident prevention. Improved publicity on home safety targeted at older people and their carers would support the primary health care team in this role.
Graham
H J
HJ
Firth
J
J
D000056:Accident Prevention; D000061:Accidents, Home; D000368:Aged; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care