Falls and Fear of Falling among Persons Who Receive Housing Adaptations—Results from a Quasi-Experimental Study in Sweden

While health might deteriorate through the ageing and disablement process, the impacts of disability can be reduced by adapting the environment. This study aimed to investigate the effects of applying a standardized research-based strategy to housing adaptation as compared to ordinary practice with...

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Main Authors: Gunilla Carlsson, Maria H. Nilsson, Lisa Ekstam, Carlos Chiatti, Agneta Malmgren Fänge
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2017-09-01
Series:Healthcare
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/5/4/66
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spelling doaj-5bec1c3c2ef846379e51dfaec9ac05e52020-11-24T21:45:37ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322017-09-01546610.3390/healthcare5040066healthcare5040066Falls and Fear of Falling among Persons Who Receive Housing Adaptations—Results from a Quasi-Experimental Study in SwedenGunilla Carlsson0Maria H. Nilsson1Lisa Ekstam2Carlos Chiatti3Agneta Malmgren Fänge4Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Box 157, SE-221 00 Lund, SwedenDepartment of Health Sciences, Lund University, Box 157, SE-221 00 Lund, SwedenDepartment of Health Sciences, Lund University, Box 157, SE-221 00 Lund, SwedenDepartment of Health Sciences, Lund University, Box 157, SE-221 00 Lund, SwedenDepartment of Health Sciences, Lund University, Box 157, SE-221 00 Lund, SwedenWhile health might deteriorate through the ageing and disablement process, the impacts of disability can be reduced by adapting the environment. This study aimed to investigate the effects of applying a standardized research-based strategy to housing adaptation as compared to ordinary practice with respect to falls and fear of falling. Another aim was to investigate the overall effects of housing adaptations on fall-related outcomes over time. In total, 196 clients were included at baseline, with follow-up at 3 and 6 months after the housing adaptation was implemented. The only significant difference between the two approaches was identified with respect to fear of falling at 3 months after the housing adaptation, but not after 6 months. The number of clients reporting actual falls increased over time in both sites, whereas the number of reported near-falls decreased most in the intervention site, but without significant differences. Thus, the patterns of differences between the sites are inconsistent, as are the patterns of change in fall-related outcomes. An overall conclusion is that if the goal is to improve fall-related outcomes, housing adaptation should be complemented with other interventions preventing falls and explicitly address the clients’ activity limitations. In addition, longer follow-up times are necessary.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/5/4/66active ageingfrailtyhome modificationinterventiondisabilitycontrolled trial
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Gunilla Carlsson
Maria H. Nilsson
Lisa Ekstam
Carlos Chiatti
Agneta Malmgren Fänge
spellingShingle Gunilla Carlsson
Maria H. Nilsson
Lisa Ekstam
Carlos Chiatti
Agneta Malmgren Fänge
Falls and Fear of Falling among Persons Who Receive Housing Adaptations—Results from a Quasi-Experimental Study in Sweden
Healthcare
active ageing
frailty
home modification
intervention
disability
controlled trial
author_facet Gunilla Carlsson
Maria H. Nilsson
Lisa Ekstam
Carlos Chiatti
Agneta Malmgren Fänge
author_sort Gunilla Carlsson
title Falls and Fear of Falling among Persons Who Receive Housing Adaptations—Results from a Quasi-Experimental Study in Sweden
title_short Falls and Fear of Falling among Persons Who Receive Housing Adaptations—Results from a Quasi-Experimental Study in Sweden
title_full Falls and Fear of Falling among Persons Who Receive Housing Adaptations—Results from a Quasi-Experimental Study in Sweden
title_fullStr Falls and Fear of Falling among Persons Who Receive Housing Adaptations—Results from a Quasi-Experimental Study in Sweden
title_full_unstemmed Falls and Fear of Falling among Persons Who Receive Housing Adaptations—Results from a Quasi-Experimental Study in Sweden
title_sort falls and fear of falling among persons who receive housing adaptations—results from a quasi-experimental study in sweden
publisher MDPI AG
series Healthcare
issn 2227-9032
publishDate 2017-09-01
description While health might deteriorate through the ageing and disablement process, the impacts of disability can be reduced by adapting the environment. This study aimed to investigate the effects of applying a standardized research-based strategy to housing adaptation as compared to ordinary practice with respect to falls and fear of falling. Another aim was to investigate the overall effects of housing adaptations on fall-related outcomes over time. In total, 196 clients were included at baseline, with follow-up at 3 and 6 months after the housing adaptation was implemented. The only significant difference between the two approaches was identified with respect to fear of falling at 3 months after the housing adaptation, but not after 6 months. The number of clients reporting actual falls increased over time in both sites, whereas the number of reported near-falls decreased most in the intervention site, but without significant differences. Thus, the patterns of differences between the sites are inconsistent, as are the patterns of change in fall-related outcomes. An overall conclusion is that if the goal is to improve fall-related outcomes, housing adaptation should be complemented with other interventions preventing falls and explicitly address the clients’ activity limitations. In addition, longer follow-up times are necessary.
topic active ageing
frailty
home modification
intervention
disability
controlled trial
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/5/4/66
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