Risk factors for falls and injuries in a long-term care facility in Ontario

Objective: To identify risk factors for falls and injuries among seniors li ving in a longterm care facility. Method: Case-control study of 335 residents living at St. Joseph's Villa, D undas, Ontario. Cases were defined as residents who fell between July 1, 19 96 and June 30, 1997; controls were those who did nor fall. To identify ris k factors for injury, cases were defined as those with completed incident i njury forms and controls as those without. Results: The most important risk factors for falls included: having fallen in the past three months; residing in a secured unit; living in the facilit y for two or more years; having the potential to cause injury to others; an d having an illness, disease or behaviour that may cause a fall. The most i mportant risk factor for injury among those who fell was altered mental sta te. Conclusion: The risk factors identified may be helpful to those planning fa lls prevention initiatives within long-term care settings.