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What Are the Circumstances of Falls and Fractures in Long-Term Care?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 October 2016

Caitlin McArthur ,
David A. Gonzalez ,
Eric Roy  and
Lora Giangregorio
Caitlin McArthur*
Affiliation:
Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo
David A. Gonzalez
Affiliation:
Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo
Eric Roy
Affiliation:
Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo
Lora Giangregorio
Affiliation:
Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo Toronto Rehabilitation Institute–University Health Network Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging
*
†La correspondance et les demandes de tire-à-part doivent être adressées à : / Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to: Caitlin McArthur, MScPT University of Waterloo 200 University Avenue West Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 (cmcarthu@uwaterloo.ca)
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Abstract

This prospective, observational study characterizes the circumstances that led to falls in long-term care (LTC) residents and describes the characteristics of residents who fractured following a fall. Staff recorded the location of the fall, time of day, activity the participant was doing prior, and if an injury occurred. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the falls, and a generalized linear model was used to determine differences between the circumstances. Of the 101 LTC residents who participated, 41 per cent experienced at least one fall. Residents were significantly more likely to have fallen in the bedroom and while walking. Of the 17 falls resulting in fractures, most occurred in the bedroom and bathroom, during the early morning; most residents who fractured were female with cognitive impairment. To monitor falls comprehensively, ambulatory monitoring that avoids privacy issues in bedrooms or bathrooms may be needed. Interventions should target walking or the bedroom setting.

Résumé

Cette étude prospective d’observation rend compte des circonstances qui ont conduit à des chutes des résidents dans des établissements de soins de longue durée (SLD) et les caractéristiques des résidents qui ont subi des fractures suite à une chute. Le personnel a enregistré l’emplacement de la chute, le moment de la journée, l’activité dans laquelle un participant a été engagé avant l’incident et si une blessure a été soutenue. Les statistiques descriptives ont été utilisées pour décrire les chutes, et un modèle linéaire généralisé a été utilisé pour déterminer les différences entre les circonstances. Parmi les 101 résidents SLD qui ont participé, 41 pour cent ont eu au moins une chute. Les résidents étaient beaucoup plus susceptibles d’être tombés dans la chambre et tout en marchant. Parmi les 17 chutes entraînant des fractures, la plupart se sont produites dans la chambre à coucher et la salle de bains, tôt le matin; la plupart des résidents qui ont subi des fractures étaient des femmes ayant une déficience cognitive. Pour surveiller les chutes globalement, la surveillance ambulatoire, qui évite les problèmes de confidentialité dans les chambres à coucher ou les salles de bains, peuvent être nécessaires. Les interventions devraient cibler la marche à pied ou l’organisation de la chambre.

Keywords

agingfallsfractureslong-term carevieillissementchutesfracturessoins à longue durée
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 35 , Issue 4 , December 2016 , pp. 491 - 498
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Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2016 

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