Factors Associated With Injurious Falls in Residential Care Facilities.
OBJECTIVE
Despite a growing literature on the epidemiology of falls, little is known about injurious falls in residential care facilities (RCFs). Addressing this gap, this study examined demographic, interpersonal, institutional, and community factors associated with injurious falls in RCFs.


METHODS
We conducted analyses using a nationally representative sample ( n = 733,309) of RCF residents (2010) examining whether or not a resident experienced a fall that resulted in any injury (past year).


RESULTS
Overall, 15% of RCF residents experienced an injurious fall. Residents needing assistance with activities of daily living were more likely to experience injurious falls (adjusted-OR = 1.85), whereas males (adjusted-OR = 0.74) and those residing in smaller facilities (adjusted-OR = 0.68) were less likely. Other resident sociodemographic characteristics, payment status, social connectedness, and rurality were not significant independent predictors.


CONCLUSIONS
Research further exploring multifactorial fall prevention screening and treatment programs in RCFs is recommended for reducing injurious falls in this understudied setting.
1 Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, USA.
Samuel D
SD
Towne
1 Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, USA.|2 Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, USA.
Jinmyoung
J
Cho
1 Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, USA.|3 Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, College of Public Health, The University of Georgia, Athens, USA.
Matthew Lee
ML
Smith
1 Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, USA.
Marcia G
MG
Ory
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D061214:Patient Safety; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States
falls; long-term care; older adults; residential care facilities