The nature of falling among community dwelling seniors

This paper analyses data pertaining to falls from a 1995 random survey of 1 ,285 seniors living in the Capital Regional District of British Columbia. I n the preceding six months, 211 (16.5%) people reported falling at least on ce. The overall rate for women was 18.6 per hundred compared with 13.3 for men. The study also examined relationships between falling and an array of demographic, health, psychological and psychosocial variables. The Likeliho od of falling increased directly with age and chronic illness, as well, as indirectly with age, SES, and gender via chronic illness (i.e. older, poore r women tend to have more chronic illness which then leads to a higher inci dence of falling). In turn, falling was directly related to increased depen dence, and through it indirectly related to health satisfaction, mental hea lth and a measure of life satisfaction.