Policy to Practice: Falls in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

August 3, 2016
One out of every three adults aged 65 years or older in the general population falls at least once each year. For adults with intellectual disability (ID), the prevalence of falls is even higher with studies estimating a fall rate ranging from between 29% to 70%. Falls are a major cause of serious injury and hospitalization, and an important public health concern. Using baseline data from the Longitudinal Health and Intellectual Disability Study, we examined the prevalence of falls and potential risk factors for falls in adults with ID.
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Authors
Kelly Hsieh, Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago
James H. Rimmer, Civitan International Research Center and Sparks Clinics, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Tamar Heller, Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago
Jessica Minor, Association of University Centers on Disabilities, Silver Spring, MD Christine Grosso, Association of University Centers on Disabilities, Silver Spring, MD