Abstract
THE EFFECT OF THE RISK FACTORS OF FALLING ON DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES IN ELDERLY PERSONS

It was planned with the objective of determining the effect of the risk factors of falling on daily living activities in elderly persons. A cross-sectional study was conducted at three nursing homes and covered a sampling of 227 elderly persons in Izmir, Turkey. Data was gathered with the Sociodemographic Questionnaire Form, Tinetti’s Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Timed-up and Go test (TUG). Among the participants, the mean age was 75.99+7.60, 55.9% were male, 63.4% were divorced or widowed, 61.2% were primary school or less and junior high school level educated. The FES score point average of the elderly was 67.50±27.84 and the MBI point average was 88.84±14.58. The average periods of the elderly walking back and forth a distance of 3 meters was 19.04±8.30 sec. It can be stated that the balance and mobility skills were at a medium level in the elderly due to the fact that their periods of walking were long and consequently, they experienced a risk of falling. The conclusion was reached that because the elderly had fallen previously and was afraid of falling; they realized their daily living activities in a more careful manner.