Falls Among Asians Living in Small Apartments Designed for Older Adults in Singapore

Abstract

This article aims to examine factors associated with falls in older adults residing in apartments designed with age-friendly features in Singapore. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 925 older adults aged 55 years and older, residing in studio apartments in Singapore. Multivariable backward logistic regression and independent factors associated with falls include older age, cataracts, urinary-tract disorders, general weakness, participation in family gatherings, and functional difficulty in dressing. Interaction effects were found for gender and walking long distances. Environmental factors were not independent factors for falls, although they were associated on bivariate analysis. Findings have implications on the importance of age-friendly design setting on fall prevention. Fall prevention efforts should be multidimensional and target modifiable risk factors for falls.

Keywords:

• Aging-in-place
• age-friendly environments
• fall prevention
• older adults

Disclosure statement

None.

Additional information

Funding

This research is supported by the Singapore Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council under the Center Grant Program—Singapore Population Health Improvement Center [NMRC/CG/C026/2017_NUHS] and the National University of Singapore Virtual Institute of the Study on Ageing (NUS-VISA) Ageing Integrative Research Cluster Grant.