Table 1.
Characteristics of the Australian study participants (n = 35).
| Characteristic | Mean (SD) |
|---|---|
| Age, years | 67.7 (5.5) |
| Lives alone: n (%) | 13 (37) |
| English spoken at home: n (%) | 34 (97) |
| Accommodation type: n (%) | |
| House | 20 (57) |
| Unit/independent living unit | 15 (43) |
| Total medicationsa | 3.0 (2.9) |
| Total co-morbiditiesb | 3.3 (2.3) |
| Fallen in the past year: n (%) | 11 (31) |
| Number of fall risk factors identifiedc: median (range) | 1 (0–4) |
| Self-rated balance fair/poor: n (%) | 15 (43) |
| Self-rated fear of falling ≥ moderate: n (%) | 14 (40) |
a
Total number of prescription medications taken.
b
Possible comorbidities recorded included: arthritis, osteoporosis, asthma, COPD/emphysema, angina/ischaemic heart disease/heart attack, congestive heart disease, hypertension, Parkinson's disease, atrial fibrillation, stroke/TIA, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, upper gastrointestinal disease, depression, cognitive impairment, anxiety/panic disorder, visual impairment, hearing impairment, cancer, and gout.
c
Score out of a possible total of 8 on QuickScreen fall risk assessment.