Determinants of uptake of home modifications and exercise to prevent falls in community-dwelling older people

Published 2nd September 2014

According to a recent article published by the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Harvey, Mitchell, Lord and Close (2014) state that based on data obtained from the 2009 NSW Falls Prevention Baseline Survey, conducted by the NSW Ministry of Health, "More than one-quarter (25.7% of the older population of NSW report having made modifications to their home ....There was a clear gradient of increased uptake of home modifications with increasing age, with the reverse trend for increased exercise". This is a significant finding given population ageing.

Unfortunately, the definition of home modifications used in the study was of mixed aetiology and included some items which are non-structural so not home modifications by definition such as removed/added mats or rugs, cords and clutter

• Installed handrails
• Replaced steps with ramps
• Improved lighting
• Removed loose cord/appliances
• Installed bath/shower/toilet seat
• Installed anti-slip surfacing

This is a weakness in both the survey and study design which makes itrtaing and attributing intervebntions problematic.