EDUCATIONAL GERONTOLOGY, vol.36, no.12, pp.1051-1064, 2010 (SSCI)
The present study analyzed home safety and safe behaviors against fall accidents of elderly people living at home. The study group comprised 121 people aged 65+ living in the catchment area of Ankara Mamak Halil Ulgen Health Center. Data were collected via a personal information form and Home-Screen Scale. Statistical analysis used an independent samples t test and one-way ANOVA; the Tukey test was also applied. According to the average score of the issues of Home Screen Scale of elderly people, the issue of osufficient illumination of rooms and corridors at nightso ([image omitted]=7.47) had the highest average in the Home-Safe subscale. The highest-scoring issue in the Safe-Behaviors subscale was othe individual puts on his/her shoes/slippers properlyo ([image omitted]=7.49). It was found that the opinions of elderly people regarding the Home-Safe subscale and the Safe-Behaviors subscale differed significantly according to age and health security (p.05). Recommendations are to eliminate the situations that result in falling risks in the houses in which old people live, to improve the overall environmental conditions in such houses, and to inform elderly people of relevant safety risks in a way that will help them develop safer behaviors.