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Senior citizens not living independently can be
subdivided into three (setting-specific) categories
(Table 6):
• Senior citizens still living in their own homes,
but with outside care
• Senior citizens living either temporarily or permanently
in nursing homes
• Senior citizens living as patients in hospitals
In general, the prevention opportunities that have
been described in connection with «persons living
independently» are also relevant with reference to
senior citizens «not living independently». While, in
the case of the latter, the training of the «basic
motor skills» is also considered preferable, this
form of intervention does not play a central role for
the prevention portfolio. Here, prominence should
be given to the promotion of activities of daily
living to maintain muscle mass, balance as well as
strength and mobility from the point of view of
injury prevention. Developing a daily routine into
which exercise is integrated is also recommended.
Where responsibility for prevention is concerned, a
«setting-specific shift» can generally be noted.
Responsibility for prevention (in the sense of active
versus passive participation on the part of the senior
citizens concerned) is shifting from a more active
participation within the «living independently»
setting to a more passive participation within the,
«hospital» setting. This also corresponds to a shift
from more behaviorally oriented to situationally
oriented prevention options. This is why the role of
nurses and carers is gaining in importance. Prevention
options that are listed in connection with «private
infrastructure» relate to nursing homes or
hospitals, for example. Depending on the supporting
institution, these prevention options can also
equally be assigned to the «public infrastructure».
Table 6
Highly recommended und recommended prevention possibilities: Falls – senior citizens not living independently
Risk factor Prevention option Assessment
Socio-demographic factors
Post-fall syndrome (fear of Screening (screening/assessment tools)
Recommended
falling)
History of falls
Examination and evaluation of the factors that have contributed to previous falls as well as the Recommended
use of knowledge/information already available from previous falls in order to develop adequate
fall-prevention strategies
Main motor skills (conditional and coordinative abilities and skills)
Exercises and training parameters must be in line with state of health
Deficits in terms of static and Screening (Screening/assessment tools)
Recommended
dynamic postural control Individually designed exercise programmes with supervision/care
Recommended
Exercise programmes for groups (not individual) with supervision/care
Recommended
Promotion of activities occurring in everyday life (e.g. getting dressed, washing) to maintain Recommended
muscle mass, ability to balance as well as strength and mobility from injury-prevention aspects
Development of a daily routine with integral physical exercise (define objective)
Recommended
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