Falls are one of the common problems among older adults; it is estimated that 684,000 fatal cases of falls occur every year. Furthermore, falls constitute one of the leading causes of mortality due to accidental injury. This study aims to identify the risk factors for falls in the older adults who live in the community, according to the dimensions of the living area: in urban and rural. The proportional sampling method was used to identify the rural and urban areas in West Java Prefecture; meanwhile, the incidence of fall in the last 12 months was selected as the outcome variable. Furthermore, sociodemographic background, chronic medical condition, fear of falling, visual and hearing impairments, Activity of Daily Living (ADL), Barthel index, physical performance (Short Performance Physical Battery (SPPB)), and living environment were analyzed to identify the risk factors that contribute to the incidence of falls. A total of 611 older adults participated in this study: 62% of them are living in rural area and 38% of them are living urban areas. More than 70% of study participants were aged 60–69 years, while 73% were females. There is no significant difference in fall prevalence in rural (16.5%) and urban (10.7%) areas ( value = 0.228). Furthermore, the multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the male gender (OR = 0.29, 95%CI [0.09–0.88]), chronic illness (OR = 3.25, 95%CI [1.24–8.53]), and visual impairment (OR = 3.6, 95%CI [1.52–8.54]) were associated with fall among older adults in urban areas. Meanwhile, visual impairment (OR = 1.81, 95%CI [1.03–3.18]) and living environment (OR = 3.36, 95% CI [1.14–9.93]) were significantly associated with falls in rural areas. Based on the associated risk factors identified in this study, a different approach is needed to reduce the falling risk among older adults in urban and rural areas in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Fall-related injuries are identified as a public health problem that has major consequences in affecting the lives of elderly people. Recent studies showed that one out of four elderly people suffers from this condition annually. AIM: This study aims at identification of fall risk factors that involve intrinsic and extrinsic factor to predict the future fall. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study uses an observational design and a descriptive-analytic approach with a cross-sectional method which was used to identify risk factors for falls. This study targeted 60 years and above who live in West Java region. Afterward, a total of 420 people were obtained and divided into two regions, 215 people in Bandung Regency and 205 people in Bandung City. Furthermore, the sampling technique used was for cluster random sampling. RESULTS: The elderly who experienced incontinence in controlling urination had the potential of falling by 4 times compared to those who did not AOR = 3.73; 95% CI (1.038–13.428). Furthermore, those who had history of falling in the past 12 months were 2.4 times exposed compared to those who had not fallen AOR = 2.438; 95% CI (1.219–4.875). Balance disorders also contributed in increasing the risk of fall by 2 times with a value of AOR = 1.703; 95% CI (1.018–2.849). An extrinsic factor, namely, unsafe home environment has higher possibility to increase the risk of falling 2.6 times compared to those in safer environment (AOR = 2.603; 95% CI [1.331–5.087]). CONCLUSION: This study succeeded in identifying the risk factors for falls among the elderly in intrinsic and extrinsic approach. This finding can be used as a reference in planning health promotion programs for elderly people, specifically in the primary prevention of morbidity and mortality that occur due to falls.

The increasing number of the elderly population presents special challenges in the health sector with the emergence of degenerative problems and non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) that may decrease the quality of life (QoL). Development in the quality of life of the elderly is an important issue for national security and development. This study using cross-sectional approach, intended to identify the differences in the quality of life among the elderly who live in the nursing homes and the community. The results showed that statistically significant differences were found in variable ages (p

The prevalence of fall increases with increasing ages. Falling is significant health problem in elderlyand the risk increases significantly when they have chronic diseases such as, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic problem, urogenital diseases, digestive diseases, respiratory diseases, musculoskeletal and malignant diseases. elderly also vulnerable on suffering multiple chronic illness. This study aimed to identify the influence of multimorbidity to the incidence of fall in elderly. A cross sectional approach was used for this research, and, based on simple random sampling, a total of 427 elderly individuals (>60 years old). The data collection was based on the use of one set of questionnaires consisting of the demographic characteristics (age, gender, education background and economic status), the list of fifteen common chronic illness including suffered by the elderly as the risk factor for fall, and the incidence of fall within the las 12 month as the outcome. This study demonstrated that fall incidence among the elderly is significantly linked to the presence of chronic illness. The number of chronic conditions is significantly influencing the incidence of fall among elderly. The elderly who have more than two of chronic illness likely to have fall 2 times higher that those who have less than two chronic illness.

Introduction. Unsteady gait, instability, and lower extremity muscle weakness are some of the risk factors for falls. Reduced balance is a further precursor of falls, and injuries adversely affect the instability. In doing an activity without losing their balance, confidence among older adults is also crucial because it will influence their mobility. Objectives. The objective of this study is to examine the association between activity balance confidence and functional mobility, including gait, balance, and strength, among older adults. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among older adults living in long-term care facilities and community dwellings. A total of 326 older adults (>60 years old) participated in this study from three provinces in Java Island, Indonesia. The inclusion criteria were older adults living independently and without obstacles in communication, who have no hearing loss, and who agreed to be respondents. The activity-specific balance confidence (ABC) scale determines the level of confidence. The participants were asked about their balance confidence not to lose their balance while doing 16 activities. The dependent variable is the mobility test, including a gait test using TUG (times up and go) to see how the subjects stand, walk, and turn around; a balance test (four stages); and a strength test (30-second chair stand). Results. The results of the ABC scale showed the respondents felt the most confidence not to lose their balance when they walk around the house (82.01) and the less confidence when they stepped onto or off an escalator while holding onto a railing (37.7). The gait, balance, and strength test revealed that 51.2 of the respondents showed an unsteady gait, 63.8 showed instability that felt awkward and unusual when standing on one leg, and 60.1 of the participants showed muscle weakness. The bivariate analysis significantly correlated the ABC scale test and all mobility tests. The older adult participants who are not confident will have 12.03 times higher the unstable result of the gait test, 8.4 times higher the unstable result of the balance test, and 7.47 times higher the less strength result of the strength test who are confident. Conclusion. Older adults who lack balance confidence showed significantly poorer results in mobility tests.