COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS ATTRIBUTIONS ABOUT FALLS

Objective: To examine the extent to which 162 older adults attributed the cause of their fall to their own limitations and to their surround ings, and the relationship of these attributions with selected sociode mographic, health-related, locus of control, and fall-related characte ristics. Design: A stratified (by age greater than or equal to 65, gen der, and area of residence) random sample; needs assessment survey an products and services to enhance independent living among older adults ; included section on falls. Setting: Community-dwelling individuals i n both urban and rural settings. Participants: Potential respondents w ere drawn from the Manitoba Health database. Overall refusal rate was 22%. Final number of 1,406 participants were interviewed; 162 of these participants reported a fall, Main Measures: Outcome measures were: ( 1) the extent to which the fall was attributed to ''own limitations'' (internal attribution), and (2) the extent to which the fall was attri buted to ''surroundings'' (external attribution). Results: There is di versity in the extent to which individuals attribute falls to internal and external causes, Stepwise regression analyses indicated those rep orting poorer self-rated health (p<.001); having dexterity difficultie s (p<.01); and living in an apartment (p<.05) were more likely to attr ibute the fall to their own limitations. Those reporting better self-r ated health (p<.01); and falling outdoors (p<.01) were more likely to attribute the fall to the surroundings. Conclusions: Fall attributions need to be more fully examined in the context of self-rated health an d fall prevention programs. (C) 1995 by the American Congress of Rehab ilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and R ehabilitation