Falls and Fractures: A Major Health Risk for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in Residential Settings

Falls and fractures are a major health problem, especially among people with intellectual disabilities (ID). The authors report on an exploratory survey at one Dutch residential facility, aimed at determining the characteristics of people with ID who were prone to falling. Data on falls and fractures were compared with a number of characteristics of the institution’s residents. Each week data about falls were sampled during the study period of 33 months. It was found that risk factors for falling included: previous fractures, increasing age, impaired vision, seizures, use of antiepileptic drugs, and impaired mobility. Some 57% of the population fell during the observation period, resulting in 26 fractures. The authors noted that as the expected incidence of falling was high, an important finding was that people capable only of walking inside the building have a high risk of falling. The risk factors found can help identify those persons who are prone to falling, and this information can be used in fall prevention programs.