ElderWeb

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) has posted a collection of consumer fact sheets which include a variety of issues likely to be of interest to ElderWeb readers. The fact sheets include information on a wide range of issues from bathroom modifications and driving safety to gardening with arthritis.

Thomas Gill, M.D., associate professor of medicine and geriatrics at the Yale School of Medicine led a study of the causes of falls in older adults published in the December issue of the journal Medical Care. Falls are common among the elderly and often lead to loss of independence or even death. The rate of falls among persons 65 and older is about 30%, and among persons 80 or older, 50%. Of those who do fall, about 10% sustain a serious injury, such as a fracture, joint dislocation, or severe head injury. Falls and fall related injuries also are associated with pain, loss of confidence, functional decline, and placement in a nursing home.

Gill reports that they found very little evidence to link falls to home hazards, and also said the significance of the results is that money spent making homes of the elderly safer probably could be better utilized. A co-author of the study, Mary Tinetti, M.D., professor in the Departments of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Epidemiology and Public Health, completed a study about six years ago showing that a multi-component program targeting primarily muscle weakness, poor balance, vision loss, proper footwear, and monitoring medications, among other precautions, was most effective in preventing falls by the elderly.

Gill and his co-researchers evaluated 1,088 New Haven residents 72 and older and performed home safety assessments to determine whether 13 potential trip or slip hazards were present. These included hazards such as loose throw rugs, obstructed pathways, and slippery bathtubs. They then contacted participants each month for three years asking if they had fallen, and, if they had, what were the circumstances.

The new issue of Chronic Diseases in Canada (CDIC) contains a study of the elements of mobility that predict the survival of elderly patients with dementia difficulty. The study found that difficulty in dressing and getting about were important prognostic factors. A history of falls was also found to predict poor survival, as well as poor motor strength and inability to perform the examination to assess gait function.