What are the practices of caregivers to prevent falls among institutionalized elders?

Abstract

Objective: to describe the practices of caregivers in managing the risk of falls of institutionalized elders, relating these practices with age, education, and the time the caregivers have been exercising this profession. Method: correlational and quantitative study. The population included the professionals from six long-permanence health institutions for Portuguese elders. The Scale of Intervention Practices to Prevent Falls in Institutionalized Elders was used. Results: the 53 indicators have shown that the practices are generally good. The use of physical measures to restrict mobility as prevention, however, is worrying. There was no statistically significant difference between the number of years of professional activity, the age of the caregivers, their education, and their actions with regard of falls among elders. Conclusion: the practices adopted are positive, but they are not always maintained and are not associated to the variables being studied.