STUDY OF CASE MANAGEMENT FOR FALLS AMONG PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA

Research Project

Project/Area Number	06672329
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Nursing
Research Institution	HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF HOKKAIDO
Principal Investigator	NAKAJIMA Kieko HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF HOKKAIDO,DEPARTMENT OF NURSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES,PROFESSOR, 看護福祉学部, 教授 (90009613)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	IKEDA Maumi DEPARTMENT OF NURSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES,INSTRUCTOR, 看護福祉学部, 助手 (10265093) TAKEDA Keiko DEPARTMENT OF NURSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES,INSTRUCTOR, 看護福祉学部, 助手 (40265096) KITAGAWA Kimiko DEPARTMENT OF NURSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES,ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, 看護福祉学部, 講師 (30224950)
Project Period (FY)	1994 – 1995
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 1995)
Budget Amount *help	¥1,700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000) Fiscal Year 1995: ¥900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000) Fiscal Year 1994: ¥800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000)
Keywords	FALL / AGED PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA / NURSING HOME / GERIATRIC HOSPITAL
Research Abstract	Studies were carried out, targeting aged people with dementia in nursing homes and a geriatric hoslital, concerning the number of falls by aged people with dementia the risk factors involved in falls and management of facilities for aged people with dementia. The results of the studies clarified the following points : [Number of falls] 1. The number of falls by aged people with dementia over the course of one year at nursing homes was 26-61% of the total number of falls. 2. Injuries were incurred in 26% of the falls, especially to the head and face. 3. Falls were mainly due to unstable movement, as well sa communication problems with other people [Factors causing falls] 1. Many of the falls were by people with advanced dementia. 2. Significant inclinations in posture, divergence in direction and irregularities in the rhythm of gait were frequently observed in the people who experienced falls. 3. The risk of falling was high for people with such problems as delirium, visual disorder, nutritional disorder and urinary incontinece. [Management of facilities for aged people with dementia] 1. The area of movement for the people who wxperienced falls covered the whole facility. 2. Residents at facilities for the aged spent more than 80% of their time during the day alone. 3. The allocation of care staff was inadequeate for the supervision of aged people with dementia whose movement covered a wide area. Based on the results of a 2-year study period. we prepared a manual of "Case Management Policies for the Prevention of Falls Among Aged People with Dementia".