RISK-FACTORS FOR FALLS AMONG BLIND ELDERLY IN A NURSING-HOME FOR THE BLIND

The present study is a retrospective investigation of falls and the ri sk factor for falls among 84 blind elderly residents of a nursing home for the blind over a period of 2 years. During these 2 years, 20 resi dents (24%) experienced falls, and 6 (7%) of them sustained bone fract ures. An investigation of risk factors for falls revealed a relation b etween falls and depressive symptoms, a deterioration in the sense of balance, and presbyacusis. Due to the heightened risk of falls among t he visually handicapped, sufficient attention must be paid to signs of depression, decline of balance, and presbyacusis in the care of the b lind elderly. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserv ed.