Suzanne Gillespie|Sarah T. Friedman
Fear of Falling in New Long-Term Care Enrollees
Monroe Community Hospital|University of Rochester|Highland Hospital|University of Rochester
measure prevalence fear falling older adults time long term care ltc enrollment identify potentially treatable risk factors low fall related selfefficacyprospective cohort studythree ltc programs upstate new york112 new enrollees ltc aged 55 older passed cognitive screenselfreported falls falls efficacy scale fes medical conditions short geriatric depression scale physical performance measures berg balance scale hip flexor knee extensor grip strength gait speed sixminute walkof 54 subjects 482 reported fear falling 41 759 reported activity modification secondary fear fearful subjects likely female p 003 report low back pain p 030 lower extremity arthritis p 037 fearful subjects weaker hip p 001 knee p 001 shorter sixminute walk distances subjects better fes scores better berg scores p 001 greater hip knee strength faster gait speeds walked six minutes p 001 p 006 p 001 p 001 respectively subjects low fes scores fearful subjects likely depressive symptoms p 003 p 044 respectivelyfalls fear falling common new ltc enrollees previously described community dwelling snf cohorts attention associated characteristics like depression arthritis low back pain lower extremity weakness may identify opportunities reduce fear improve patient safety transitional period