Risky Attitudes to Home Accidents of the Elderly Living in Special Home Care

Tuesday, 13 July 2010

Ozlem Ozdemir, MSc
Tulay Ortabag, PhD
School of Nursing, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to asses elderly risky attitudes.

Learning Objective 2: The reader will learn accident experiences and incident of elderly.

Purpose: Physiological changes and chronic diseases arising during aging process increase risk of accident of the elderly. Home accidents are the most commonly health problem in the elderly. This study was planned to determine the risky attitudes to home accidents of the elderly living in special home care.

Methods: This study was conducted as a descriptive type of research with 80 elderly (65 years and over) who agreed to participate in the study and who lived in special home care in Ankara. The data were collected though the questionnaire formed by the researchers. Questionnaire is including socio demographics, elderly risky attitudes and experience of home accidents. Number and percentage were used in the statistical evaluation of data and Chi square test for significance was used in the statistical evaluation of correlations between dependent and independent variables. Before starting the study necessary permission was taken from the related foundations. Prior to the application of the questionaire the aim of the study was explained to participants and the importance of the study was emphasized.

Results: According to the risky attitudes assessment of the elderly, 66.2% were had risky attitudes to home accidents and the number of risky attitudes increased with aging, limited walking and had a amnesia. It was found that 26% of the elderly had home accident during the last one year. Home accident was found to be significantly higher in the subjects with gender, aging and limited walking.

Conclusion: It is recommended that education programs can be given by nurses to the elderly to increase awareness for their risky attitudes.