French geriatric day hospitals managing falls

Introduction: Falling is a serious hazard for the elderly that may lead to severe injury, loss of independence, and death. The aim of the study was to describe the resources devoted by French geriatric day hospitals for the assessment and care of elderly fallers, by differentiating medicine day hospitals and rehabilitation day hospitals. Method: Department heads listed in the directory of the Association for the Promotion of the Day Hospitals for Elderly people (APHJPA) were contacted by email and invited to answer a questionnaire online. Results: Among the 162 doctors contacted, 135 filled in the questionnaire (82.3%). Care of fallers was an important activity for responding departments. However, it represented less than 20% of the total activity for 80% of respondents. It involved the systematic or occasional participation of numerous medical and paramedical personnel. The majority of teams systematically performed complementary investigations in all fallers. Primary care physicians requested one half of all day hospitalization. A standardized file was used by 55 to 64.3% of respondents, while computerized files were still not widely used. Home assessment was proposed by only 17 medicine day hospitals. 85% of rehabilitation day hospitals proposed a personalized care project, spread out over several sessions, associated with educational intervention. One half of respondents carried out a preliminary consultation and/or a follow-up consultation. Conclusion: Although the fall was not the leading activity in terms of volume of geriatric day hospitals, the majority of these units devoted considerable resources to this activity and ensures personalized evaluation and care of elderly fallers.