Nabilah EBRAHIM
Ph.D. Student
Faculty of Community and Health Sciences
Department of Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science
University of the Western Cape
South Africa
Nabilah Ebrahim holds a degree in Sport Science, dual Honours in Sport and Exercise Science and Biokinetics. She completed her Masters in Biokinetics, with thesis titled “The determinants of falls among the elderly living in long-term care facilities in the City of Cape Town” has heightened her passion for disabilities and interest in geriatrics. Nabilah was nominated as an ambassador for the Africa Wetu Foundation (AWF) and formed part of the UWC Emerging Leader’s Programme (ELP) whilst completing her masters. As an athlete, Nabilah is a South African Region South and USSA (University Sport South Africa) gold medalist. She played university (Stellenbosch and UWC) hockey and had a role as the sport and conditioning coach. Nabilah is now pursuing her doctoral studies in motor and cognitive functions amongst the elderly. She is also working as a biokineticist at a retirement facility in Cape Town and incorporating the facility as a rotational site for students to be exposed to disabilities and the aged. Her area of interest is geriatrics with a focus on biomechanics and rehabilitation. With her passion for geriatrics, she wishes to support and evolve the studies of holistic health and advanced motion capture systems amongst this high priority community.
The Determinants of Falls Among the Elderly Living in Long-Term Care Facilities in the City of Cape Town
Falls are a common health burden with a multi-factorial origin causing physical, psychological, and social problems for the elderly and the society, especially within low- and middle-income countries. There is a great demand and significance for proper health care professionals in the public sector, especially within elderly care institutions where there is an absence of implementing physical activity programs in the prevention of falls. The amount of pressure and workload that allied health staff undergo places a huge burden on them, especially when working in a long - term care facility that is understaffed. This places them in vulnerable positions of which they neglect to fully complete important tasks. The study used a quantitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive design to investigate the elderly, aged 60 years and older, living in retirement facilities in the City of Cape Town. A total of 258 male and female participants were recruited. A researcher-generated and self-administered questionnaire, Fall Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Timed Up-and-Go test (TUG), and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) were instruments used. Determinants of falls were strongly associated with history of falls pertaining to the facility type, level of education, marital status, concerning behaviors, and other risk factors not observed in the study. Antipsychotic and diuretic medications were the only drugs associated with falling. A strong correlation was observed between participant falls and the TUG and BBS assessment. Majority of risk factors for falls are modifiable, thus by doing regular assessments and follow- ups, could lead to the early detection and preventions of falls. There is a need to raise awareness and educate health professionals on the determinants of falls, and to implement prevention strategies as well as appropriate health care professionals to contribute towards this global concern.