By: Deepa P.R, Lekshmi C.L, Sreevidhya s, Shaliya Saleem, Kavitha G, Dola Banerjee, and Vandana Agnihotri
1Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India
2Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India
3Student, Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Background: The background of studying geriatric health stems from the demographic shift toward an aging population worldwide. Approximately 36 million falls are documented annually among older adults, leading to over 32,000 fatalities. Each year, around 3 million older adults receive treatment in emergency departments due to fall-related injuries. Recognizing patients who are at risk is crucial for effective management, as implementing preventive strategies in this vulnerable group can significantly impact public health. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted among 90 elderly people in a tertiary care hospital in Pune to assess the knowledge regarding fall prevention at home. Sampling techniques used was nonprobability purposive sampling. Results: Out of 90 participants, 14 (15.6%) had poor level of knowledge regarding home based fall prevention among elderly (knowledge score below 50%), 46 (51.1%) had average level of knowledge (knowledge score between 50–74%) and 30 (33.3%) had good level of knowledge towards the prevention of home based fall among elderly (knowledge score more than or equal to 75%. Conclusion: Preventing falls and injuries is a major health concern. Reducing harm by addressing critical factors, such as frailty, cognitive issues (like dementia and delirium), limited mobility, medication management, and nutrition can enhance health outcomes for older adults.
Keywords: Fall, elderly, knowledge, geriatric health, geriatric population
Citation:
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