Hip protector compliance among older people living in residential care homes

Objectives: To estimate the compliance rates for the use of hip protectors among people living in residential care homes.

Population/setting: People aged 65 years and over living in residential care homes with 20 or more beds in East Kent, south east England.

Methods: Seventeen homes with the highest historical frequency of hip fractures were selected. All residents were offered SAFEHIP hip protectors. Care staff recorded daily hip protector compliance on diary cards over six months. Compliance rates were estimated from the number of sessions (morning, afternoon, evening, night) that a person wore hip protectors.

Results: A total of 153 (51%) out of 299 residents agreed to wear hip protectors The 24 hour compliance rate for those who were issued with hip protectors and wore them at least once was 29%: 37% in the daytime and 3% at night. Daytime compliance rates reduced from 47% for the first month, to around 30% for months 5 and 6.

Conclusion: This study highlights the problems of persuading older people living in residential care homes to wear hip protectors. They have been shown to prevent hip fracture in nursing home (high risk) populations, and a recent trial showed their effectiveness in a mixed geriatric population. People living in residential care homes are also at greater risk of falling and fracturing than their counterparts living in the community. Initiatives to prevent hip fracture within residential care homes are also justified.