Fall risk, fall awareness, and social support among 825 community—dwelling older adults with functional limitations: a cross—sectional study

TL;DR

This study finds that higher fall awareness and stronger social support reduce fall risk in older adults with functional limitations.

Contribution

The study identifies fall awareness and social support as modifiable factors influencing fall risk in older adults with functional limitations.

Findings

Higher fall awareness and greater social support are independently associated with lower fall risk.

Advanced age, being unmarried, living alone, and sleep disorders increase fall risk.

A regression model explained 53.6% of the variance in fall risk.

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the level of fall risk and its associations with fall awareness and social support among community-dwelling older adults with functional limitations.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to October 2025. Using cluster sampling, 825 older adults with functional limitations were recruited from four communities in Chengdu, China. Fall risk was assessed using the Modified Falls Risk for Older People in the Community Assessment (MFROP-com), fall awareness was measured with the Self-awareness of Falls in Elderly Scale (SAFE), and social support was evaluated via the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression.

Participants exhibited a high fall risk (mean score 26.51 ± 10.95). The regression model explained a significant proportion of variance in fall risk (Adjusted R2 = 0.536, p < 0.001). Higher fall awareness (B = −0.463, β = −0.565, p < 0.001) and greater social support (B = −0.422, β = −0.190, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of lower fall risk. Advanced age, unmarried, living alone, and having sleep disorders were associated with increased risk (p < 0.05).

Fall awareness and social support were identified as key modifiable factors associated with reduced fall risk among community-dwelling older adults with functional limitations. Fall prevention programs should focus on enhancing risk perception and strengthening social support networks for this population.