Prevention of falls in the elderly in the home: promoting active ageing

Objective: To determine the frequency of falls and identify risk factors in the homes of the elderly under the Home Care Service of a village in Alentejo (Portugal). Method: Exploratory, descriptive study. The target group were elderly persons under the Home Care Service (23). The questionnaire consists of open and closed questions, and was based on the Jefferson Area Board for Aging Safety in the Home Assessment; Instrument to Assess the Risk of Falls and Adaptations to Prevent Falls at Home. Results: Of the 23 seniors, 13 were men; the mean age was 85; 10 widowers; 11 live alone; 12 cannot read or write; 17 have experienced falls, loss of balance being the main cause. They report changes in vision (21), hearing (14) and rheumatic diseases (14); hypertension (19); they use 4 or more drugs on a daily basis (16). Conclusion: The physiological changes associated with ageing may increase the risk of falls. Due to the consequences, it is a priority field in community intervention.

The role of anglers' perceptions and habits in biological invasions: perspectives from the Iberian Peninsula

Anglers are a recognized vector for invasive fauna, with both intentional and accidental introductions reported worldwide. * The purpose of this study was to investigate the Iberian freshwater angler's habits and perceptions related to biological invasions, using an international and bilingual survey in Spain and Portugal. * The results showed that anglers from both countries cover great distances to fish, and that they commonly visit several places and fish during consecutive days, representing a major risk for invasions. Yet, anglers' activity patterns throughout the year are not constant: the summer months involve more intense activity and, hence, entail higher risk. * In both countries, the preferred fish species were invasive, and their introductions were reported more often than native species, with motivations being country-dependent. * The use of live bait was not frequent, but sometimes invasive species were used and the release of unused bait in the water was reported very frequently. * Most anglers recognize that introductions have environmental impacts and that anglers have an active role in intentional introductions. However, only a minority is aware of the angler's role in accidental transportation of invasive species. * These findings on anglers' behaviour patterns and perceptions may be used to model invasion risks and also improve monitoring and awareness programmes led by government agencies.

The role of angler’s perceptions and habits in biological invasions: Perspectives from Iberian Peninsula

1. Anglers are a recognized vector for invasive fauna, with both intentional and accidental introductions reported worldwide. 2. The purpose of this study 2. The purpose of this study was to investigate the Iberian freshwater angler’s habits and perceptions related to biological invasions, using an international and bilingual survey in Spain and Portugal. 3. The results showed that anglers from both countries cover great distances to fish, and that they commonly visit several places and fish during consecutive days, representing a major risk for invasions. Yet, anglers’ activity patterns throughout the year are not constant: the summer months involve more intense activity and, hence, entail higher risk. 4. In both countries, the preferred fish species were invasive, and their introductions were reported more often than native species, with motivations being country-dependent. 5. The use of live bait was not frequent, but sometimes invasive species were used and the release of unused bait in the water was reported very frequently. 6. Most anglers recognize that introductions have environmental impacts and that anglers have an active role in intentional introductions. However, only a minority is aware of the angler’s role in accidental transportation of invasive species. 7. These findings on anglers’ behaviour patterns and perceptions may be used to model invasion risks and also improve monitoring and awareness programmes led by government agencies.