Relationship between fall risks and activities of daily living in older individuals

The global increase in the older population has also increased the pressure on the health systems and services required for the care and treatment of older individuals. Demographic trends in the following 30 years show that the adult population aged 65 and over will become nearly 2 billion by the year 2050.^1,2 The proportion of older individuals has been increasing rapidly in Turkey like in the world. While 8.7% of the world population is composed of an older population, this proportion was 8.3% in Turkey in 2016.³ Number and proportion of older individuals in the total population make old age an important social problem in modern society. Increase in individuals’ life expectancy brings along problems such as health problems that prevent older individuals from taking care of themselves, becoming dependent on others, and requiring care.^4,5

With the aging process, older individuals experience biological, psychological, and physiological declines and difficulties in activities of daily living (ADL) as well as visible insufficiency in their functions. These changes experienced by older individuals limit the ADL and negatively affect their quality of life.^6,7 In the 1970s, Nancy Roper, Winifred W. Logan and Alison J. Tierney developed a Nursing Model, based on ADL, that provides a systematic presentation of ADL and a rational method of approaching human beings with all dimensions to identify the importance of ADL. ADL presents individuals’ activities that they carry out to maintain daily life. The main notion of this model is to identify the extent to which people can maintain their daily life independently on their own.⁸

Older individuals’ self-sufficiency decreases gradually as their health problems increase, and there are increases in accidents and fall rates. Although falls are not specific to old age, it is an important health problem whose prevalence increases with age and which causes mortality and morbidity in older individuals.^9,10 Globally, approximately one-third of individuals aged 65 and over fall annually, and 20–30% of these falls result in physical injury. In addition, severe injuries in older individuals increase care costs.^11,12 Falls are the primary causes of fatal and nonfatal injuries in individuals over 65 years old. In America, approximately 27,000 older individuals died due to falls in 2014; 2.8 million patients were treated in emergency services due to injuries caused by falls, and approximately 800,000 of these patients were hospitalized.¹³

With the aging process, older persons experience regression, with visible insufficiency, and difficulty in daily living activities. These changes in elderly persons restrict the daily living activities of individuals, with negative impacts on their quality of life. In particular, falls represent a phenomenon that causes fear and concern in older persons. Although falls are not limited to older persons, it is an important health issue the prevalence of which increases with age, causing mortality and morbidity in older persons. However, the literature states that fall risk increased in older persons, particularly those under treatment at hospitals, and increased subject to deterioration of medical conditions, polypharmacy, environmental factors, and confusion. Also, the fear of falling affects the feeling of confidence in older persons in relation to their daily activities, reducing their ability to perform daily living activities and leading to a less active lifestyle.^14,15

Study results showed that physical performance is very important for the realization of stability and flexibility in the older. It suggests taking part in older rehabilitation of the applications for the protection and improvement of body flexibility and balance.¹⁶ Another study result recommended that “Safe-Movement and Walking Program” is generalized and more applied in nursing homes for decreasing fear of falling in the older individuals living in a nursing home.¹⁷

Of all the participants, 57.1% were female, 71.2% were married, 50.6% graduated from secondary school, 40.3% did not have a wage-earning job, 63.9% had income equal to expenses, 35.6% lived with their spouse and children, 77.7% did not need support about anything, 63.1% had a chronic disease, 58.4% used medicine regularly, and the average age of the group was 70.18 ± 7.09 (Table 1).

Findings showed that older individuals’ DENN Fall Risks Assessment Scale mean score was 11.73 ± 7.13; scores ranged between 0 and 27. Categorical analysis of the scale score showed that 62.2% of the participants were in the high-risk group. Barthel Index of ADL mean score was 68.03 ± 25.36 with scores ranging from 0 to 100. Categorical analysis of the scale score showed that 45.1% of the participants were in the moderately dependent group (Table 2).

DENN Fall Risks Assessment Scale mean score was found to be significantly higher in those who were single/widowed, who graduated from secondary school, who worked in public/private sector, and who had a chronic disease (p < 0.05). There were no differences between the groups in terms of gender, income level, people they live with, regular use of medicine, and needing support (Table 3).

Barthel Index of ADL mean score was found to be significantly lower in those who were single/widowed, who worked in one-day jobs, who lived with their relatives, who had a chronic disease, who used medicine regularly, and who needed support (p < 0.05). No differences were found between the groups in terms of gender, education level, and income level (Table 4).

There was a negative, statistically significant correlationship between Barthel Index of ADL score and age and DENN Fall Risks Assessment Scale score; there was a positive, statistically significant correlationship between DENN Fall Risks Assessment Scale and age (p < 0.01) (Table 5).

The World Health Organization considers falling as one of the most important health problems of old age. Falling is a situation that negatively affects the quality of life, leads to loss of independency in ADL, and causes fear and anxiety in older people.^24,25 According to a report published in 2004, one-third of older individuals fall every year, and this proportion was higher in individuals aged 75 and over. Injuries in 20–30% of the older individuals who fell decreased their mobility and independency and increased risk of premature death.²⁶ A review of the literature indicates that women and people in advanced age groups have high fall risks due to decreased muscular force.¹⁴ This study found no significant differences between gender and fall risks, but it might change from society to society. In addition, prevalence and risk of falls are high in people aged 65 and over.²⁷

Falls cause loss of mobility and independency in 20–30% of older individuals and severe injuries in 10%, prolong care duration, increase the need for medical care and treatment as well as health care cost by affecting health care expenses.²⁸ Old age is also associated with walking and balance changes, increased inactivity, more severe chronic cases, and more prescribed medicine use; all of these are risk factors for falls.¹⁴ In line with the related literature, fall risk was found to be higher in individuals with a chronic disease.

Studies in our country showed that dependency levels were higher in individuals aged 65 and over, and dependency increased with the increase in age.²⁹ This study found that older individuals’ dependency was at a moderate level and that dependency demonstrated an increase with age. Other studies in our country also found older individuals to be moderately dependent.^30,31 This study found that dependency levels were higher in older individuals who had a chronic disease and who used medicine regularly. Other studies also reported that dependency levels increased with the increase in the number of older individuals’ chronic diseases and use of medicine.^29,30,31

This study also showed that according to Barthel Index classification, fall risks increase as the dependency level increases. Beyazay et al.³⁰ also found that patients’ fall risks increased with the increase in their dependency. There is a global necessity for increasing awareness about the importance of physical activity among older individuals. “Healthy ageing” traditionally focuses on the prevention of chronic diseases. However, decreasing falls and dependency requires more efforts to protect independent physical and cognitive functions, mental health, and well-being.^1,32

Related literature indicates that it is possible to prevent older people's falls, and health care providers (doctors, nurses, doctor assistants, physiotherapists, etc.) could play an important role in this issue by initiating appropriate plans and interventions.³³ Health care providers should discuss the issue of preventing falls with their patients and take necessary precautions. Regular physical activity is reported to decrease mortality and chronic disease risks and enhance well-being and independency in older individuals. One of the most important approaches that could be used in retarding age-related morbidity is reported to be increasing physical activity.^1,34

The limitation of this study is that it was conducted in one region and with a small group of participants.

In conclusion, the dependency level and fall risks increase with the increase in age. In this regard, assessments should be performed with standardized scales and forms, and necessary precautions should be taken accordingly. In addition, innovative efforts are required to study physical inactivity, prevent loss of muscle force, and maintain balance in the older population. Special investments and policies should be provided for maintaining healthy aging. In addition, nurses can play an important role to decrease older individuals’ dependency levels and fall risks definition. Nursing policies in line with these should be applied at regional and national levels to decrease illnesses and burden of incapacity among older individuals.