Design and Product Development

Protection against Hip Fracture: Clothing behaviors and Home Conditions of the Elderly

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Abstract

According to Home Safety Council reports, between 1992 and 1999 approximately 18,000 deaths per year occurred due to unintentional home injuries. The leading causes of home injury deaths for all age groups and both genders were falls, accounting for 5,961 deaths each year. The number of fall deaths was substantially higher among those over 70 years of age compared to all other age groups. The cost of these falls in 2010 alone totaled over $28.2 billion (Wiley, 2011). Hip fracture is one of the consequences of falls and it affects the ability to manage activities of daily living. It is known that hip protectors may reduce the risk of fracture and eliminate the risk of disability and death (Birks et al., 2004; Handoll, 2010). However, a general problem with compliance to wearing may be low comfort levels and inadequacies in design. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore clothing behaviors and home conditions of elderly females in relation to wearing a hip protector. The objective was to understand whether elderly females’ clothing behaviors influence their acceptance and usage of a hip protector on a daily basis.

How to Cite:

Derafshi, M. H. & Ruppert-Stroescu, M., (2015) “Protection against Hip Fracture: Clothing behaviors and Home Conditions of the Elderly”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 72(1).