FALLS AMONG INSTITUTIONALIZED ELDERLY - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY IN 4 INSTITUTIONS IN FINLAND

We analyzed prospectively the incidence, the intrinsic and extrinsic f actors and the consequences of falls during a 7-month period in 4 inst itutions in Finland in 1993. A total of 370 falls among 160 patients w ere recorded. Of the fallers 56% fell once and 44% more than once (ran ge 2-24). The mean fall rate in men was higher than that in women (p < 0.01). Fallen men were younger but less ambulatory than women. Of the falls 95% occurred without eyewitnesses and 27% during the night shif t; 30% (114/370) resulted in an injury and 7% (11/160) of the fallers suffered a fracture.