Falls and related functional ability: a case study for the development of long term care in elderly from a pilot area, Yha Pong, Amphur Muang, Sisaket Province

Abstract

The elderly are at risk of fall than any other age groups. One of the main factors is functional ability of elderly people. This cross-sectional study assessed falls and functional ability in elderly people dwelling in a pilot area, Yha Pong, Amphur Muang, Sisaket Province. By using a questionnaire, a sample of 258 elderly people aged at least 60 years old were interviewed for their health status and fall history within the past 6 months. The participants were divided into fallers and non-fallers groups. Then they were assessed in terms of functional ability according to five activities, which were 1) Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test 2) 30-Second Arm Curl 3) 2-Minute Step Test 4) Timed Up and Go Test 5)10-Meter Walk Test. The findings indicated that the mean age of the two groups, 54 fallers and 204 non-fallers, was equally 70.2 years old, and about two thirds was female. Assessment of fall history revealed that most of the participants were single fallers. The fall would occur at home as frequently as in the community. The cause of their fall was environmental hazards, mostly tripping; however, fall had little effects on the elderly. Only 7.4 % of the participants reported bone fracture, and dislocation. The functional ability evaluation showed that the average time of the non-faller group evaluated with Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test and Timed Up and Go Test was more than its counterpart. Meanwhile, in the assessment of 10-Meter Walk Test the speed of the fallers was less than the non-fallers. The number of steps in 2-Minute Step Test of the fallers was also less than the other. There were all statistically significant differences     (p< 0.05); however, there were no differences in 30-Second Arm Curl of both groups. The results demonstrated that the risk of falling among elderly adults results from lower muscle strength, the balancing, walking, and functional endurance. The study provided important information for development of working plan in this pilot area to develop such ability and to decrease the risk of falling among these elderly people.