Association between the physical and accessibility risks and the elderly people falling risks

Objective: The study had as purpose to examine the influence of physical and accessibility risks of the elderly’s falling risk. Methodology: It is a cross-sectional study, of descriptive and analytical character, with a census type of survey and of quantitative approach performed with 65 elderly people, of both sexes, that were registered in a Family Health Unit. Results: The predominance of the falling risk in this population was 38.5%, with the mean age in the falling risks group of 75.0 years (± 7.35), whereas with the risk free group it was 69, 53 years (± 8.32). Among the physical risks, the existence of slippery areas (81.5%), inadequate lighting (73.8%) and very low furniture (67.7%) were the most noticed. Among the accessibility risks there were highlighted the absence of access ramp (98.5%) and the existence of uneven stairs (64.6%), however none of the factors were substantially linked to the falling risk. Conclusion: It can be settled that extrinsic factors should not be taken as determinants of the falling risk in the elderly people when assessed in an isolated way, and it is important to take into consideration the intrinsic factors’ influence in this process. Keywords: Falling accidents. Aging. Risk factors. Environmental risk.