Vaiva Strukčinskaitė, Sigutė Norkienė, Birutė Strukčinskienė
Abstract
Population aging is one of the twenty-first-century problems. Injuries are especially dangerous for elderly people since they contribute to the elderly mortality, disability and worsen the quality of life in older age. The aim of the study was to analyze the risk factors of falls, and prevention possibilities in elderly. The literature overview and the document analysis were performed. The study showed that falls are a main cause of death for the elderly. Fall risk factors are internal (related to the physiological changes in order age) and external (related to the unsafe environment). Vision and hearing problems and other chronic diseases may also be risk factors for falls. Unsafe environment at home and on the road, the lack of assistive devices and tools are external risk factors for falls. The main measures for the elderly injury prevention are balance training, physical activity promotion and safe environment creation. In addition, education, awareness enhancement, vision and hearing problems solution, appropriate use of medication, and assistive devices and tools are recommended measures for safety promotion and risk of falls reduction in elderly.
Keyword(s): elderly; falls; risk factors; prevention.
DOI: 10.5200/sm-hs.2016.099
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