Carrasco et al (Int Jl of Older People Nursing 15, e12294 (2020)) studied fall risk factors among 508 community-dwelling older adults, more than 40% of whom had fallen within a year of the study. Many of the study’s results cohere with existing literature; chronic diseases like diabetes, dementia, and sensory disorders put people at higher risk of falling. The researchers report, however, that several demographic variables traditionally linked to fall risks were not predictive in their sample; patients’ age, education level, and socio-economic status did not appear to significantly predict falls. These findings support existing work done in similar communities in Portugal. The authors submit that unique communities do not necessarily share fall risk profiles.

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