Centre for Policy on Ageing



Falls in older people: is there a functional decline?
Author(s)	Jeremy Marwick, Jamie Layland, Julian Mahadanaarachchi
Journal title	Ageing & Health: the Journal of the Institute of Ageing and Health (West Midlands), no 7, 2001
Pages	pp 41-43
Keywords	Falls ; Self care capacity ; Mobility ; Evaluation ; Birmingham.
Annotation	Falls are common in older people, and can cause serious morbidity. This study examines whether older people who have fallen experience a functional decline, and evaluates the effect of other factors on their prognosis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 in-patients admitted because of falls to three hospitals in South Birmingham in March and April 1999; interviews were repeated after 4 weeks. The assessments included the Extended Activities of Daily Living Scale (EADL), life-space diameter, accommodation type, and walking aid provision. 23 subjects suffered a decline in function following a fall. Although not achieving formal statistical significance, fracture appeared to be particularly closely associated with functional decline. The study emphasises the importance of falls in increasing victims' dependence, and as a public health problem affecting social and health services, and the families of those concerned. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-011024206 A
Classmark	OLF: CA: C4: 4C: 87E
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.