Falls are a major health concern among the elderly, often leading to severe injuries, reduced mobility, and increased healthcare costs (WHO, 2024). Falls in healthcare settings are particularly concerning as they can result in fractures, head injuries, and loss of independence (Adepoju et al., 2024). Preventive strategies, including environmental modifications, patient education, and caregiver training, are essential to reducing fall risks among elderly patients (Bello & Musa, 2024).
In Gombe State, where geriatric care is still developing, falls remain a leading cause of hospital admissions among elderly patients. However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of existing falls prevention strategies in healthcare facilities (Oladele et al., 2024). This study aims to investigate falls prevention strategies in elderly care units in Gombe State hospitals and assess their effectiveness in reducing fall-related injuries.
Despite efforts to prevent falls in elderly care units, many hospitals in Gombe State continue to report high incidences of falls among elderly patients (Ibrahim & Hassan, 2024). The effectiveness of current prevention strategies remains unclear, and challenges such as understaffing, lack of assistive devices, and inadequate patient education may contribute to the problem (Muhammad et al., 2024).
This study seeks to evaluate falls prevention strategies in elderly care units and recommend measures to enhance patient safety.