Browsing by Author "Basaran, Zeren"

Fear of falling (FOF) and falling are urgent public health and economical challenges. Approxi-mately half of the elderly people experience FOF regardless of whether they had experienced fall or not. Increasing level of FOF can lead to self-induced restriction in mobility, physical func-tioning and activities of daily living (ADLs). Avoidance of activities weakens elderly's perfor-mance, well-being and increases the risk of falling. One-third of people over 65 years fall. For elderly 80 % of injuries are falls. Falls results in fractures, hospitalization, FOF, depression, loss of independence, premature residential care admission and even death in older persons. Number of falls has quadrupled over the past 25 years. Incidence of falling will increase in the future, as world population of people aged 65 and older is projected to increase to 997 million. Exercise is an essential method to maintain mobility, reduce FOF and prevent incidence of falling among community-dwelling elderly. “Strength in Old Age Programme” is a health enhancing exercise program (2005-2015) coordinated by the Age Institute. The project promotes independent living and quality of life (QOL) for elderly with weakened functional ability. A questionnaire was mailed to programmes’ participants consisting of questions about demographic and socio-economic status, health and well-being, physical activity habits and self-reported health improvements after participating the exercise group in April 2015. The aims of this study were 3-fold: first to identify biological, socio-economic, health and well-being, and behavioral factors affecting FOF and falling; second, to study perceived health improvements effect on FOF and falling; and last to investigate the complex association between FOF and falling. The key achievement was that “Strength in Old Age Programme” improved physical activity of elderly people involved in the study and affected biological, socio-economic and behavioral risk factors. This resulted in improvement in physical, functional, psychological and social domains reducing perceived FOF. Particularly good results in FOF reduction were seen in the participants who had higher age, were living alone and had lower socio-economic status. The incidence of falling was reduced through balance improvement in the exercise group. Similar yet smaller changes were observed in more vulnerable participants having poorer health and well-being related status. It would be important to influence the attitudes of elderly and motivate them proactively increase their physical activity to maintain balance, mobility, muscle strength, ADLs, health and well-being.