identification risk for falls diagnosis in the elderly serviced by the elderly care program

Objective: identifying the frequency of nursing diagnosis Risk for falls in the elderly and assess their risk factors. Method: retrospective study based on data recorded in the medical records of elderly patients in the Elderly Care Program. Data collection was done between May-June 2009, by means of a questionnaire with information on the epidemiological and diagnostic study, classified according to the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA-I), after approval by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Alfenas (protocol 23087.001613/2009-01). For tabulation and analysis of data the statistical program Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used. Descriptive statistics allowed us to describe and summarize the data obtained which were compared using the chi-square (X) and Fisher's exact test. The statistical significance level adopted was 5% (p<0.05). Results: 114 records were evaluated including the diagnosis Risk for falls was present in 50.4 (43.9%) elderly. The intrinsic risk factors with the highest prevalence were age above 65 years of age (84%) and the use of medications (28%) and extrinsic factor was the environment (62%) in the presence of stairs represents the greatest risk (34 %). Conclusions: the Risk of falls is significant in the life of the elderly and should be included in a context that also addresses the different responses of the individual to the aging process, which will facilitate the development of strategies for nurses and encourage adequate conditions for health. Descritptors: geriatric nursing, nursing diagnosis, elderly, accidents due to falls.