The population-based cross-sectional study used data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study and included 4,648 community-dwelling US Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older who completed visual function tests and a home environment instrument in 2022.
Researchers reported that more than half of the sample lived with at least one hazard and that nearly half lacked bathroom grab bars. Tripping hazards affected a share of homes and broken flooring was also present; roughly seven percent of homes had two hazards. The team found that the interaction between vision loss and home hazards mattered more than either factor alone.
Older adults with severe vision loss were three to four times more likely to fall when they lived in homes with hazards. The authors recommend pairing vision care with targeted home modifications to reduce fall risk.
Difficult words
- cross-sectional study — research that looks at a population at one time
- community-dwelling — living in their own non-institutional home
- hazard — something that can cause harm or dangerhazards
- grab bar — bar fixed in bathroom to hold ontograb bars
- interaction — way two or more factors affect each other
- vision loss — partial or complete decrease in eyesight
- fall risk — chance that a person will fall
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What changes would you suggest in a home to reduce hazards for older adults?
- How could vision care and home modifications work together to prevent falls?
- Should public programs help pay for home modifications for older adults? Why or why not?
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