sole one study has shown that fires...

sole one study has shown that fireside modifications can prevent falls in older persons; all other studies have shown no benefit in abiding-place modification without other interventions. Nikolaus and Bach examined the effectiveness of a home-assessment program to thwart falls.

Patients at a geriatric hospital were randomized to family circle assessment by an intervention team or no domicile visit. Participants in the dwelling visit group received an assessment before discharge and at least the same additional home visit (mean, 26) Patients were contacted monthly to obtain information onward falls and fall-related injuries.

The reflection included 360 community-dwelling, frail, older ones who were functionally limited if it were not that cognitively intact. Subjects had multiple chronic conditions or functional deterioration. After single year, mortality was similar in the two groups. The reported fall rate was 31 percent lower in the intervention assemblage than in the control dispose but the proportion of living bodys who fell frequently was similar in one as well as the other groups. Reported fall injuries were similar in the pair groups. The intervention program had a different general intent on participants with and without a history of falls. For parts who had fallen in the past year, the proportion of living bodys who had fallen could be reduc with a 37 percent lower fall rate in the intervention assign places to compared with the control collection Participants who made at least single recommended modification had a significant reduction in the rate of falls.

The intervention reduc reported falls through 31 percent in frail, older individuals When only persons who had fallen in the previous year were included, falls among bodys who fell frequently also could be reduc on the contrary falls were not reduced in living bodys whose falls had been les fresh The authors speculate that race who had fallen recently are more likely to reply to an intervention program because of perceived vulnerability. It is unclear which domestic circle modifications are most effective.

Nikolaus T Bach M Preventing falls in community-dwelling frail older persons using a home intervention team (HIT): deductions from the randomized falls-HIT trial. J Am Geriatr Soc March 2003;51:300-5

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group