Citation

Yamashita T, Jeon H, Bailer AJ, Nelson IM, Mehdizadeh S. J. Aging Health 2011; 23(4): 682-703.

Affiliation

Miami University, Oxford, OH.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0898264310390941

PMID

21183726

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study identifies fall risk factors in an understudied population of older people who receive community-based care services. METHOD: Data were collected from enrollees of Ohio's Medicaid home- and community-based waiver program (preadmission screening system providing options and resources today [PASSPORT]). A total of 23,182 participants receiving PASSPORT services in 2005/2006 was classified as fallers and nonfallers, and a variety of risk factors for falling was analyzed using logistic regressions. RESULTS: The following factors were identified as risk factors for falling: previous fall history, older age, White race, incontinence, higher number of medications, fewer numbers of activity of daily living limitations, unsteady gait, tremor, grasping strength, and absence of supervision. DISCUSSION: Identifying risk factors for the participants of a Medicaid home- and community-based waiver program are useful for a fall risk assessment, but it would be most helpful if the community-based care service programs incorporate measurements of known fall risk factors into their regular data collection, if not already included.

Language: en