OBJECTIVE: To identify the occurrence of falls among institutionalized elderly in São Carlos City, to describe its determining factors and to verify its relationship with handgrip strength. METHODS: 61 elderly subjects (31 men and 30 women) took part of the study, being assessed regarding handgrip strength and interviewed regarding falls and possible factors for its occurrence. RESULTS: It was found that 54.1% of the elderly had fallen at least once in the 12 months preceding the study. The disability of watching television presented a significant correlation with falls (p=0.05), in contrast to other functional activities studied (walk, take shower and seat independently), pain and diseases. Statistically significant differences were found between the mean age of the elderly who had fallen (76.76 years, ±9.17) and those who hadn’t fallen (71.05 years, ±8.67); and among grip strength of those who had fallen (19.37 kgf, ±8.92) compared to the ones who hadn’t fallen (25.45 kgf, ±12.14). The variance analysis didn’t show differences in the number of falls between men and women. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of falls among institutionalized elderly in São Carlos City is high and the individuals who were more likely to suffer falls were the older and weaker ones, as well as those unable to watch television.
Accidental falls; Aged; Institutionalization; Muscle strength
