Abstract
A retrospective comparative study was conducted in Italy to determine whether the risk of accidental falls is the same in acute care hospitals as in nursing homes. Accidental falls were significantly related to women older than 80 years and to a hospital stay 10 days or longer, with an increased risk related to stroke, arterial hypertension, and a Norton Scale score greater than 15. Prevention strategies need to be based on the context and specific intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing the risk of falls in elderly patients.