ABSTRACT

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEVELS OF INDEPENDENCE AND THE INCIDENCE OF FALL RISK AMONG THE ELDERLY AT THE TRESNA WERDHA MAGETAN SOCIAL SERVICES UNIT
Zahrotul Mufidah
Faculty of Health Sciences, Muhammadiyah University of Ponorogo
E-mail: mufidahzahrotul846@gmail.com
The aging process in older adults leads to a decline in physiological function, particularly in the musculoskeletal system and body balance, which can affect their ability to perform daily activities and increase their risk of falling. The level of independence in performing daily activities is associated with the risk of falling among older adults. This study aims to analyze the relationship between the level of independence and the risk of falls among older adults at the Tresna Werdha Magetan Social Services Unit.
The research method employed a descriptive-analytical design with a cross-sectional approach. The sample consisted of 54 older adults selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Barthel Index and the Morse Fall Scale (MFS) questionnaires and then analyzed using the chi-square test with a significance level of α = 0.05.
The results of the study show that most older adults fall into the “partially dependent” category of independence, with 35 respondents (64.8%), and the majority of older adults fall into the “low risk of falling” category, with 24 respondents (44.4%). The analysis indicates a significant association between the level of independence and the risk of falling (p < 0.001). The higher the level of independence among older adults, the lower their risk of falling. This study concludes that there is a significant relationship between the level of independence and the risk of falling among older adults at the Tresna Werdha Magetan Social Services Unit (UPT). These results indicate the importance of maintaining and improving the level of independence among older adults as a means of reducing the risk of falling and supporting their quality of life.

Keywords : Level of Independence, Risk of Falling, Older Adults.