The prevalence of the home accidents and affecting factors among elderly in Samsun, Turkey

Background and aim; Home injuries are a serious public health problem for the elderly. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of the home accidents among elderly and the relation between the main factors and home accidents, in Samsun, Turkey.
Methods; The cross-sectional study was conducted in January 01- February 28, 2007. One hundred two (87.9%) of the target population was approached during the study. A questionnaire, The Home-screen scale (HSS) and The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were applied to elderly.
Results; It was found that 21 (20.6%) of the study partici­pants have had any type of home accident within last 12 months. In this study, seven (%46.7) of the participants living alone and fourteen of the participants living with their family had a home accident and a significant difference was found as statistically (p<0,05).  Eleven (%14.7) and 10 (%37.0) of participants had a home accident in order that are living in homes determined as secure and unsecure in HSS (p<0,05). Probability depression is determined at the 65 (%63.7) of the elderly and depressed at the 27 (%26.5) of them, no significant difference was found between the ones that had a home accident and had no home accident in terms of depression.
Conclusions; From the data we gained by this study it’s shown that home accidents are more common at people living alone and unsecure home group at HSS. Elderly especially the ones living alone must be educated about decreasing the risks of home accidents and obtaining a secure home environment.
Key Words: Elderly, home injury, falls, Home-screen scale, The Geriatric Depression Scale