Incidence of falls and fall-related outcomes among people in aged-care facilities in the Lower Hunter region, NSW
Richard E. Gibson A B C , Mandy Harden B , Julie Byles A and John Ward BA Research Centre for Gender Health and Ageing, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle
B Hunter New England Area Health Service
C Corresponding author. Email: richard.gibson@newcastle.edu.au
NSW Public Health Bulletin 19(10) 166-169 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB07049
Published: 21 November 2008
Abstract
This article describes the rate of falls and adverse outcomes following falls, such as fracture, hospitalisation and death, among residents of 88 aged-care facilities in the Lower Hunter region of NSW from July to December 2005. A high rate of falls was observed with a crude incidence of 171 falls per 1000 beds per month. Around 40% of the falls resulting in hospitalisation were for fractured neck of femur. Estimated 3-month survival following fractured neck of femur was low, with a rate ratio of around 1 : 3. The data indicate an urgent need for falls injury prevention in aged-care facilities.
Acknowledgments
Funding for data collection was provided by NSW Health and is part of a Health Promotion Demonstration Project. This paper is prepared by the authors on behalf of the research team. Researchers in the Faculty of Health at the University of Newcastle and in the Hunter New England Area Health Service are members of the Hunter Medical Research Institute.
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