Predictive Capacity of the Integrated Care for Older People Screening Tool to Assess Fall Risk in Older Adults in Geriatric Care

ABSTRACT Aim To evaluate the predictive capacity of the Integrated Care for Older People screening tool for the risk of falls in older people receiving care at a healthcare service. Design A cross‐sectional study. Method This study was conducted in a geriatric healthcare service in the southeast region of Brazil. The convenience sample included older people aged 60 and over living at home. The study used the Fall Risk Score to assess the risk of falls and the Integrated Care for Older People screening tool to track intrinsic capacity. The data was analysed using logistic regression to analyse the association between the six Intrinsic Capacity domains, for the early detection of impairment and risk of falls. Results A total of 253 older adults participated in the study, most of whom were identified as having a high risk of falls. Logistic regression analysis across six association models revealed that the models including the Intrinsic Capacity domains of locomotion and hearing had a significant association with having a higher risk of falls. Care plans should prioritise the domains most strongly associated with fall risk, guiding targeted strategies to enhance older adults' safety. Conclusion The Integrated Care for Older People screening tool, in the locomotion and hearing domains, is associated with the risk of falls in older people from the community receiving care in a geriatric healthcare service. Future longitudinal studies could show whether other domains of intrinsic capacity can predict the occurrence of falls. Relevance to Clinical Practice This study highlights the Integrated Care for Older People screening tool as essential in nursing practice, especially for assessing the locomotion and hearing domains of intrinsic capacity. Early detection of impairments helps identify increased fall risk in older adults, enabling nurses to implement targeted, person‐centred interventions that enhance safety, autonomy and overall quality of life. Patient or Public Contribution No patient or public contribution. Reporting Method This study complied with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines for cross‐sectional studies.