Home and environmental hazards modification for fall prevention among the elderly

Aging is a challenge for the global public health because it increases fall risk, disabilities, cognitive impairment, and comorbidities (Chang et al., 2019; The Lancet Public Health, 2017). Worldwide people aged 65+ who fall at home are 28%–35% per year, people aged 70+ are 32%–42% (Bilik et al., 2017; CDC, 2017; Stevens et al., 2012; WHO, 2008). Falls are defined as unexpected events in which participants come to rest on a lower level (Lamb et al., 2005). In adults, they are complex and feature multifactorial phenomena (Gazibara et al., 2017), related to environmental factors (31%), lack of physical exercise (17%), and dizziness (13%) (Rubenstein, 2006). The aim of this study is to develop an implementation tool for effective, sustainable, and transferable home assessments and modification interventions to prevent falls and fall-related injuries in community-dwelling older people.