title: Incidence of falls and fall-related outcomes among people in aged-care facilities in the Lower Hunter region, NSW.
abstract: This article describes the rate of falls and adverse outcomes following falls, such as fracture, hospitalisation and death, among residents of 88 aged-care facilities in the Lower Hunter region of NSW from July to December 2005. A high rate of falls was observed with a crude incidence of 171 falls per 1000 beds per month. Around 40% of the falls resulting in hospitalisation were for fractured neck of femur. Estimated 3-month survival following fractured neck of femur was low, with a rate ratio of around 1 : 3. The data indicate an urgent need for falls injury prevention in aged-care facilities.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Gender Health and Ageing, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle. richard.gibson@newcastle.edu.au
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harden
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Byles
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000293:injuries; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*