Association of Physical Activity and Independence with Fall Risk among Older Adults at UPTD Bukit Hindu Community Health Center, Palangka Raya

BACKGROUND: Fall risk is an event that causes a person to suddenly lie or sit on the floor or at a lower level, which may or may not cause injury. The results of a preliminary survey of 12 older adults showed that 9 older adults (75.0%) still engaged in light activity, 10 older adults (83.3%) were still independent in performing daily activities, and 7 older adults (58.3%) had a history of falls. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of physical activity and independence with fall risk among older adults at UPTD Bukit Hindu Community Health Center, Palangka Raya. METHODS: This study used quantitative research with a Cross-Sectional approach. The sample consisted of 85 respondents. Data were collected using the IPAQ questionnaire, Katz Index, and MFS. Data were analyzed using the Spearman Rank statistical test. RESULTS: Physical activity was mostly in the moderate category, with 51 (60.0%), independence was mostly in the independent category, with 74 (87.1%), and fall risk was mostly in the low category, with 33 (38.8%). The results of the Spearman Rank test for physical activity and fall risk showed P-value = 0.000 (p < 0.05), with a correlation value of r = -0.639, meaning that H1 was accepted and thus there was an association between physical activity and fall risk among older adults. The results of the Spearman Rank test for independence and fall risk showed P-value = 0.000 (p < 0.05), with a correlation value of r = 0.426, meaning that H1 was accepted and thus there was an association between independence and fall risk among older adults. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that the higher the physical activity, the lower the fall risk. Conversely, the lower the physical activity, the higher the fall risk. And the greater the dependence of older adults in performing daily activities, the higher the fall risk. Conversely, with good independence, fall risk is lower.