title: Falls in older people receiving in-home informal care across Victoria: influence on care recipients and caregivers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Older people receiving informal care at home appear at high falls risk. This study investigates frequency, circumstances and factors associated with falls risk for older care recipients, and their informal caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-six dyads, recruited from caregiver agencies, underwent a home assessment, including falls risk, function, depression, quality of life, self-rated health and carer burden.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Care recipients were at high falls risk. In the past 12 months, 58% had fallen and 26% twice or more. Common falls risk factors were polypharmacy, multiple medical conditions and requiring functional assistance. Caregivers exhibited multiple health problems, moderate burden and reduced quality of life. Where care recipients had high falls risk, caregivers had significantly higher carer burden and depression. Low functional level and high care recipient health problems were independently associated with risk of falling (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strategies to reduce falls risk in this cohort are necessary, together with supporting the needs of the caregiver.
authors.affiliation: National Ageing Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. c.meyer@nari.unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Briony
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dow
authors.forename: Belinda E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Bilney
authors.forename: Kirsten J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bingham
authors.forename: Keith D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014739:Victoria