Risk factors for falls among blind elderly in a nursing home for the blind

The present study is a retrospective investigation of falls and the risk factor for falls among 84 blind elderly residents of a nursing home for the blind over a period of 2 years. During these 2 years, 20 residents (24%) experienced falls, and 6 (7%) of them sustained bone fractures. An investigation of risk factors for falls revealed a relation between falls and depressive symptoms, a deterioration in the sense of balance, and presbyacusis. Due to the heightened risk of falls among the visually handicapped, sufficient attention must be paid to signs of depression, decline of balance, and presbyacusis in the care of the blind elderly.