Neighborhood Disadvantage and Falls Among Older Adults

Using data from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging, Rundle and colleagues recently published research showing that higher neighborhood disadvantage is associated with risk of falls among community dwelling older adults.  In the first six months of study follow-up, 13% of participants reported one or more incident falls.  After adjustment for covariates, including race, income and education, the odds of falls among residents of the most-disadvantaged neighborhoods was more than three times that of residents of the least-disadvantaged neighborhoods.  Data were not available on the circumstances of the falls, so the study does not point to specific factors that link neighborhood disadvantage and falls.  However, disadvantaged neighborhoods have worse pedestrian infrastructure, including incomplete and damaged sidewalks, a disamenity that may increase the risk of falls. Additionally, poorer neighborhoods also often have lower-quality parks and open spaces that present potential fall hazards and impede the maintenance of fitness and balance skills.