Characteristics of individuals who fell while receiving home health services.
OBJECTIVE
Many patients receiving home health services are at risk for falling, but fall risk factors have not been previously investigated in this population. A retrospective record review was used to describe individuals who fell while being served by a home health agency.


METHODS
The 98 individuals who fell while receiving home health services were compared with a random sample of 98 subjects served by the home health agency during the same period who did not report falling.


METHODS
Subjects were compared by age, sex, days of receiving home health services, number of falls prior to admission to the home health agency, diagnosis, medication category, home health services received, and type of health care coverage. In the group with falls, causes of falls and interventions were described.


RESULTS
The group with falls had comorbidities of neurological and cardiovascular impairment, took more medications associated with increased risk of falling, and had almost 3 times the number of falls prior to admission than the group without falls.


CONCLUSIONS
Home care providers should consider medical history, medication usage, and fall history as risk factors for falls in the home environment.
Department of Physical Therapy Education, Elon University, Campus Box 2085, Elon, NC 27244-2085, USA. lewisc@elon.edu
Cynthia L
CL
Lewis
Mary
M
Moutoux
Myra
M
Slaughter
Stephen P
SP
Bailey
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D010640:Phenothiazines / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010640:Phenothiazines