Risk factors for falls and injuries in a long-term care facility in Ontario.
OBJECTIVE
To identify risk factors for falls and injuries among seniors living in a long-term care facility.


METHODS
Case-control study of 335 residents living at St. Joseph's Villa, Dundas, Ontario. Cases were defined as residents who fell between July 1, 1996 and June 30, 1997; controls were those who did not fall. To identify risk factors for injury, cases were defined as those with completed incident injury forms and controls as those without.


RESULTS
The most important risk factors for falls included: having fallen in the past three months; residing in a secured unit; living in the facility for two or more years; having the potential to cause injury to others; and having an illness, disease or behaviour that may cause a fall. The most important risk factor for injury among those who fell was altered mental state.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk factors identified may be helpful to those planning falls prevention initiatives within long-term care settings.
Krueger
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St. Joseph's Health Care System Research Network, Father Sean O'Sullivan Research Centre, Hamilton, ON. kruegerp@mcmaster.ca
Brazil
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Lohfeld
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D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003221:Confusion / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012308:Risk Management; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*