BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Early mobilization, such as standing and walking within the first day after surgery, is crucial to enhance recovery after a hip fracture, yet its implementation remains a challenge. This paper aims to understand the Brazilian physiotherapists' (PTs) knowledge and practices regarding early mobilization after hip fracture repair. METHODS:An online survey was conducted from September 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023 with PTs involved in postoperative care for hip fracture patients. Participants were recruited via social media and email, and answered questions assessing their knowledge and typical practices regarding the timing of early mobilization (standing and ambulation) post-hip fracture surgery. Responses were classified from the most to least associated with best practices: since the first day, the second day, and the third day or later. They also reported professional and organizational aspects related to their background, training, and work practice. Ordinal regression models identified variables associated with better knowledge and/or implementation of early mobilization. RESULTS:Of the participants, 234 completed questions on organizational and professional aspects, 169 on standing, and 155 on ambulation. PTs working in orthogeriatric teams showed best knowledge of standing (OR = 1.92, P = .048) and ambulation (OR = 1.88, P = .039). Working in private hospitals (OR = 2.32, P = .010), assisting fewer than 10 patients per day (OR = 1.91, P = .041), and using mobility assessments (OR = 1.86, P = .084) were associated with better knowledge of early mobilization. Not relying on surgeon authorization (OR = 2.27, P = .015) and assisting fewer than 10 patients per day (OR = 2.26, P = .011) were associated with better implementation of standing and/or ambulation practices. Attending training on post-hip fracture rehabilitation was significantly associated with better standing practice (OR = 1.91, P = .031). CONCLUSIONS:Multiple modifiable factors are associated with knowledge and practice of early mobilization. These findings may help practitioners and managers identify the shortcomings of current care provision, as well as the barriers and challenges to improving best practices in rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND:Mobile apps (MA) may help to identify and measure fall risk factors to develop fall prevention interventions. However, the perception of health care professionals on using MA needs further investigation. Understanding the needs, context, and opinions of users is essential for developing high-quality tools. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to investigate the perception of physical therapists about using MA for fall risk assessment in older adults. METHODS:Physical therapists caring for older adults (>60 years) in Brazil were invited to respond a web-based survey consisting of an online questionnaire about fall prevention in clinical practice. The likelihood of using MA for fall risk assessment was measured on a scale from 0 (not likely) to 10 (very likely). Sociodemographic, educational, and professional data were also collected. Barriers to MA use were investigated quantitatively and qualitatively. Descriptive statistics summarized the data, and the Chi-square test identified associations between perceived barriers and participant data. Qualitative data were summarized and analyzed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). RESULTS:The survey received responses from 454 physical therapists. Most participants were women (age between 22 and 73 years) who worked independently and had six or more years of professional experience. The mean likelihood of using MA for fall risk assessment was 8.5 out of 10 (± 2.3). The main barriers were paying for the MA (n = 288; 63.4%) and need for internet connection (n = 103; 22.7%). Qualitative barriers were mostly related to the TDF domains of "environmental context and resources" and "goals". Younger age and practice in geriatric physical therapy were associated with a high likelihood of using MA for fall risk assessment. CONCLUSION:Optimal design of MA for fall risk assessment should address potential barriers for its use, such as cost and internet connectivity. Additionally, these tools should account for user acceptability and environmental factors to ensure their successful implementation.

To examine how applying the World Guidelines for Falls Prevention algorithm, using fall history alone versus key screening questions, affects fall-risk stratification in older Brazilian adults. Using key screening questions more than quadrupled the proportion classified as intermediate and revealed regional differences, with higher intermediate risk in the Northeast and Southeast. Incorporating key screening questions improves risk detection and highlights regional inequities, supporting their routine use in fall-risk assessment in Brazil. The World Guidelines for Falls Prevention and Management (WGF) propose a global algorithm to stratify fall risk in older adults using fall history (FH) or key questions (KQ). However, evidence on the applicability of this screening tool in low- and middle-income countries, and on whether these approaches produce different population estimates, remains limited. Implementing this tool may enhance the identification of older adults at higher risk of falls. This study estimated national and regional fall risk prevalence in Brazil using both methods and examined geographic differences. We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from older participants (≥ 60 years) of the third wave of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil, 2023–2024), a nationally representative study. According to the WGF algorithm, participants were classified as high, intermediate, or low fall risk based on FH or two KQ (concern about falling and postural instability) combined with gait speed ≤ 0.8 m/s and severity markers. KQ included concern about falling, assessed using the short version of the Falls Efficacy Scale-International, and postural instability evaluated using the tandem stance test (impaired balance if < 10 s). Poisson regression with robust variance adjusted for sociodemographic factors was used to examine regional differences in fall risk prevalence. A total of 7515 older adults participated in this study (67.8 ± 0.2 years; 57.1

BACKGROUND:Evidence on how intrinsic capacity and environment interact to sustain social participation remains limited. We examined how intrinsic capacity, neighbourhood environments and their interaction relate to social participation among urban adults aged ≥50 years in Brazil. METHODS:This cross-sectional study comprised 5068 urban residents aged ≥50 years from the nationally representative 2015-16 Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Intrinsic capacity was assessed as a five-domain composite (cognitive, psychological, sensory, locomotor, vitality). Environment was measured using a 15-item neighbourhood perception scale and a derived three-item neighbourhood environment indicator capturing mobility barriers and access to food outlets. Social participation, assessed with a 14-item scale covering relational, leisure and productive roles, was classified as high for participants in the highest quartile. Associations of intrinsic capacity, neighbourhood measures and their interaction with social participation were estimated using Poisson regression adjusted for sociodemographic, clinical and modifiable factors. RESULTS:Intrinsic capacity was associated with high social participation (adjusted prevalence ratio per 1-SD increase = 1.31; 95%CI = 1.22-1.40), but both neighbourhood measures modified this relationship (P-value for interactions≤.001). The modifying role of neighbourhood measures was most evident among adults with low intrinsic capacity, for whom more supportive neighbourhoods were associated with higher probabilities of high social participation. With the three-item neighbourhood indicator, predicted probabilities ranged from 12% in the least supportive settings to 30% in the most favourable ones, approaching levels observed in adults with higher intrinsic capacity. CONCLUSIONS:Supportive neighbourhoods may help offset reduced intrinsic capacity and sustain high social participation in later life, offering scalable strategies to promote healthy ageing in under-resourced settings.

INTRODUCTION:Hospitalization in older adults is associated with functional decline and reduced mobility. Physiotherapists (PTs) play an important role in maximizing function and minimizing activity limitations or participation restrictions. However, the range of instruments used to assess older patients in hospital remains unclear, as does whether these tools comprehensively address all domains of physical functioning. We aimed to identify the instruments, related domains, and subdomains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) used by PTs when evaluating the physical functioning of older patients in hospital. Methods: An observational study using an online survey of PTs working in public and private hospitals in Brazil who cared for older adults. PTs were asked to select physical functioning instruments from a list and to provide an open-ended response. Instruments were classified by a committee of nine expert PTs with expertise in the ICF approach across various areas of practice, according to ICF domains. RESULTS:Responses from 397 PTs showed that most were women working in general inpatient wards in public hospitals, and that they reported using 33 different instruments to assess older patients. The top three instruments used were the Medical Research Council (MRC) (57.1%), the sit-to-stand test (STS) (53.4%), and handgrip strength (HGS) (40.0%). Most instruments assess the activity and participation domain related to mobility, and the most frequently reported activities were walking and moving (60.6%), changing and maintaining body position (48.4%), and personal care (24.2%). CONCLUSION:PTs working in hospital settings use a variety of instruments to assess older adults, predominantly targeting strength and mobility within the ICF activity domain. While this variability allows clinical flexibility, it hampers standardization and underrepresents aspects such as body functions, pain, and participation. There is a need for the systematic use of standardized, sensitive measures to improve clinical decision-making and discharge planning.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Incorporating Person-centred Care (PCC) and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) practices for hospitalised patients result in positive health outcomes. We aimed to identify the frequency of incorporating PCC and CGA practices among physiotherapists (PTs) working in hospitals and its association with PTs' gender, years of experience, and duration of physiotherapy sessions and to identify the barriers to assessing older patients in the hospital. METHODS:Cross-sectional survey with physiotherapists working in hospitals using a questionnaire including PTs characteristics, barriers and the frequency of incorporation of PCC and CGA practices, using a Likert scale. An ordinal regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS:Male PTs, compared to females, were less likely to consider the patient's and family's feelings (OR = 0.35; p = < 0.001), use appropriate language (OR = 0.42; p = 0.04), embrace the patient's feelings (OR = 0.28; p = < 0.001), adapts their communication (OR = 0.33; p = 0.006) and used encouragement and negotiation strategies (OR = 0.52; p = 0.02). Less experienced PTs (< 2 years) tended not to value older patients' choices (OR = 0.08; p = 0.03), share assessments with families (OR = 0.39; p < 0.001), define a care plan (OR = 0.61; p = 0.02), and embrace the patient's feelings, compared to more experienced ones. PTs conducting quick assessments (< 10 min) were less likely to provide feedback (OR = 0.26; p = 0.006), share assessments with families (OR = 0.09; p < 0.001), define a care plan (OR = 0.22; p < 0.001), assess social conditions (OR = 0.34; p = 0.009), falls (OR = 0.06; p = 0.007), sarcopenia (OR = 0.18; p = 0.002), frailty (OR = 0.27; p = 0.006), provide prognosis (OR = 0.29; p = 0.002), consider older patients' goals (OR = 0.21; p = 0.04) and plan discharge (OR = 0.23; p < 0.001). The main barriers were related to patients' health conditions and the limitations of time and resources. DISCUSSION:Incorporating PCC and CGA practices by PTs in the hospital seems to be linked to the characteristics of PTs and their availability of time. Educational and organizational interventions to foster PCC and CGA are needed.

Chronic pain is highly prevalent in frail older adults, resulting in reduced mobility and poor quality of life. However, research on the experience of chronic pain among frail older adults is scarce.To compare the experience of chronic pain among frail, prefrail, and non-frail older adults, and to identify associations involving pain measures and frailty syndrome.We conducted a cross-sectional study with older adults aged ≥ 60 years presenting chronic pain. The participants were recruited by convenience in specialized outpatient services at public hospitals. Frailty syndrome was identified through the frailty phenotype. The experience of pain was compared among the groups, and we conducted a multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for covariates.Out of the 135 participants, 36.3% were non-frail, 38.5%, prefrail, and 25.2%, frail. Frail older adults presented severe pain more frequently (p = 0.009) and had worse scores for neuropathic pain (mean: 4.1; 95%CI: 3.2-5.1) and depression associated with chronic pain (mean: 9.7; 95%CI: 7.9-11.5) compared with non-frail older adults (p < 0.001). Moreover, frail older adults presented worse multidimensional pain scores (mean: 59.4; 95%CI: 51.7-67.2) compared with non-frail (p = 0.001) and prefrail older adults (p = 0.017). Frail older adults were 3.5-fold as likely to present neuropathic pain, and they presented a 7-fold higher risk of severe pain than non-frail and prefrail older adults.Frail older adults present severe chronic pain and experience neuropathic pain more frequently. Comprehensive chronic pain assessment and management in this population is critical to achieve active and healthy aging.

OBJECTIVE:The objective was to identify and describe fall prevention strategies in upper limb fracture rehabilitation for older people using recent fall prevention guidelines as a standard. METHODS:A systematic search was conducted in 9 electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, EBSCOhost, Cochrane Library, Lilacs, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Web of Science, AgeLine, and SciELO), gray literature, and in bibliographic and citation searching of selected articles between May and December 2022 and updated between February and March 2024. Two independent reviewers screened citations for inclusion. Data extraction was performed by 1 reviewer and verified by a second reviewer. A frequency of strategies and content analysis syntheses were conducted. RESULTS:A broad search strategy was used, initially identifying 25,945 articles and including 6 randomized clinical trials. The gray literature search identified 18 records. Five studies included forearm fractures, 1 upper limb fracture, and no study exclusively on rehabilitation after humerus fractures. None of the studies provided comprehensive multifactorial fall risk assessments to guide tailored interventions. Assessments mainly focused on gait and balance. Exercise was the most offered intervention alone or in combination with education. Exercise programs were aligned with recommendations to include progressive balance and functional exercises overall. However, the frequency of ≥3 times weekly was less frequently offered. The gray literature showed a lack of fall prevention-specific information after upper limb fractures and mostly called attention to fall prevention after hip fractures. CONCLUSION:Upper limb fracture rehabilitation in older adults, considered at high risk of falling, did not include comprehensive and tailored multifactorial fall assessment and intervention. Unequivocally, exercise programs were overall aligned with recent recommendations and were the most frequent intervention. There is a crucial gap for humerus fractures. This study can help align the treatment of upper limb fractures with updated fall prevention recommendations and impact future research, guiding and influencing implementation in clinical practice. IMPACT:There is an urgent need to implement comprehensive and tailored multifactorial fall assessments and interventions in rehabilitation programs for older adults recovering from upper limb fractures. Guidelines should direct this work to enhance clinical practice.

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.

Objective: Cross-sectional study to verify the association between dynapenic abdominal obesity and the occurrence of single and recurrent falls among Brazilian adults aged 50 years and over. Methods: Baseline data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil), comprising 8374 individuals aged 50 years and over, were analyzed. Participants were categorized according to the report of falls, dynapenic abdominal obesity was determined by combining the presence of abdominal obesity (waist circumference) and dynapenia (handgrip strength). A multinomial regression adjusted for multiple variables was conducted. Results: The prevalence of a fall was 10.4% (95% CI: 9.7-11.2) and 10.8% for single and recurrent (95% CI: 9.9-11.9). Dynapenic abdominal obesity was associated with a single fall (OR: 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.7) and showed greater strength of association with recurrent falls (OR: 2.8; 95% CI 2.1-3.8). Conclusions: Our data showed that the coexistence of abdominal obesity and dynapenia in older adults creates additional challenges for aging.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore whether there might exist an interaction between using antidepressants and the influence of depressive symptoms on the recurrence of falls.DesignCross-sectional study using secondary data from a randomized clinical trial.Setting and ParticipantsCommunity-dwelling older adults (n=609, aged 73.4 ± 7.4 years) who had experienced at least one fall in the past 12 months.MethodsDepressive symptoms were measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale, and information about antidepressant usage was collected. Mediation models were built to decompose the effects of depressive symptoms on fall risk into direct effects and indirect effects mediated by antidepressant use.ResultsDepressive symptoms were reported by 29.1% of the participants, and 27.4% were using antidepressants. Those with depressive symptoms had 1.86 times the likelihood of being recurrent fallers (ORTE: 1.861, 95%CI: 1.197, 2.895), and there was no significant interaction between depressive symptoms and antidepressant use on recurrent falls (P interaction = 0.989). Antidepressant use might be a significant mediator in the relationship between depressive symptoms and recurrent falls (ORNIE: 1.140, 95%CI: 1.007, 1.291), accounting for 21.1% of the total effect.Conclusions/ImplicationsAntidepressants probably do not add a significant risk of recurrent falls beyond what is already contributed by the presence of depressive symptoms. A longitudinal study could clarify whether it might be safe to use antidepressants to treat older people with depressive symptoms without increasing the risk of falls the disease leads by itself.

Objectives:To compare the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) and the Sarcopenia Definition and Outcomes Consortium (SDOC) in identifying muscle quality indexes (MQI) and lower limb muscle performance in older women aged ≥ 65. Methods:Participants meeting EWGSOP2 and SDOC criteria were classified into the sarcopenia group (GS); others were placed in the non-sarcopenia group (GNS). Using an isokinetic dynamometer, we assessed peak torque (PT), maximal work (MW), and power (POW) of lower limbs. MQI was calculated as the ratio of muscle performance to appendicular lean mass, adjusted for body mass index (BMI) and lean tissue mass of the right lower limb (LTM). Results:We included 96 older women. In both SDOC (n=37) and EWGSOP2 (n=48) sarcopenia groups, muscle performance and BMI-adjusted MQI were significantly lower. Sarcopenia (SDOC) was significantly associated with all lower limb muscle performance and MQI variables [adjusted model by age and race: MQIPOW/LTM OR = 0.67 (95% CI 0.52; 0.85); MQIPT/LTM OR = 0.76 (95% CI 0.64; 0.89)]. Conclusions:Older women diagnosed with sarcopenia by EWGSOP2 and SDOC criteria showed significant declines in muscle function and quality. The SDOC definition discriminated muscle contraction quality components in older individuals with and without sarcopenia.

Objective: To investigate changes in life-space mobility and its relationship to health and functioning determinants on older Brazilian adults. Methods: We conducted an online and phone survey using an adapted Life-Space Assessment version. Linear regression models were used to investigate patterns of LS mobility during the pandemic decline according to cultural (gender and age groups), health conditions (multimorbidity and pain), functional capacity (activities of daily living limitation), and physical activity (walking) determinants among community-dwelling older Brazilian adults. Results: Regardless of gender, functioning, and clinical determinants of health, participants experienced significantly declines in life-space mobility since the COVID-19 pandemic. Life-space mobility reduction was higher among older people who had lower levels of walking, aged 80 and more years, women, two or more multimorbidities and limited functioning. Conclusion: Social restriction measures significantly decrease older adults’ life-space mobility in Brazil.

Resumo Objetivo Identificar os fatores clínico-funcionais associados ao risco de quedas, avaliado pelo Mini-BESTest, em idosos com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2). Método Trata-se de um estudo transversal. Um total de 145 idosos com idade =60 anos foram avaliados por meio das variáveis sociodemográficas (sexo, faixa etária, estado civil, nível de educação e percepção geral da saúde, audição e visão) Mini-BESTest, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Escala de Depressão Geriátrica (GDS-15) e o teste Timed Up and Go (TUG) (dupla tarefa). Foi utilizado um modelo de regressão logística múltipla. Resultados O domínio de orientação sensorial apresentou a pontuação média mais elevada, seguido pelos domínios estabilidade na marcha, ajustes posturais antecipatórios e respostas posturais. Os fatores associados ao risco de quedas em idosos foram: percepção visual ruim/muito ruim OR 3.40 (1,50-7,72); presença de doenças respiratórias OR 8.00 (1,32-48,46); sensação de tontura OR 2.53 (1,10-5,80); e tempo do teste Timed Up and Go (TUG) (dupla tarefa) igual ou superior a 13,5 segundos OR 3.31 (1,03-10,64). Conclusão Os idosos deste estudo apresentaram um equilíbrio postural comprometido, principalmente no domínio das respostas posturais. O conhecimento dos fatores associados ao risco de quedas em idosos com DM2 permite uma orientação mais eficaz na avaliação, prevenção e intervenção, visando minimizar a ocorrência de quedas e preservar ou otimizar o equilíbrio postural. Diversos fatores influenciaram esse resultado, tais como sobrepeso, baixa atividade física e nível educacional, várias comorbidades, polifarmácia, diagnóstico de DM2 por mais de dez anos, percepção negativa da saúde geral e da visão, e sintomas depressivos.

Our goal was to explore older adults’ views on walkability on sidewalks. An online survey was conducted based on the Active Design framework and participants and experts committee analyzed 22 photographs about the quality of sidewalks for walking. The top barriers reported by older adults were poor sidewalk condition and lack of accessibility. Safety and good accessibility were identified as facilitators for a positive walking experience. There was disagreement in seven pictures, reflecting that they might not perceive bad walking experiences. Understating how older adults perceive attributes for walking may help shape actions for aging-friendly cities.

We aimed to investigate the association of the intrinsic capacity (IC) composite measure and the vitality, locomotor, cognitive, sensory, and psychological IC domains with hospitalization in the previous year and length of hospital stay. Participants with high IC composite scores were less likely to have experienced hospitalizations in the previous year and long hospital stays. The vitality domain was a critical marker for both hospitalization and length of hospital stay. Cognitive and psychological domains were associated with hospitalization, and the locomotor domain was related to length of stay. IC is a valuable tool for monitoring the health of community-dwelling older adults. This approach introduces the opportunity for preventive measures and is promising in promoting integrated care for older people. Monitoring intrinsic capacity (IC) in community-dwelling older people can be potentially used to alert for adverse health outcomes. However, whether there is an association between IC and hospitalization has yet to be fully explored. This study aimed to investigate the association of the IC composite measure and its 5 domains with hospitalization in the previous year and length of hospital stay. We conducted cross-sectional analyses using data from a representative sample of community-dwelling adults (≥ 65 years). We assessed the IC domains (vitality, locomotor, cognitive, sensory, and psychological) using validated self-reported information and performance tests. We calculated standardized estimated scores (z scores) for IC composite measure and domains and conducted multivariate logistic and ordinal regressions. The primary outcomes were hospitalizations in the previous year and length of hospital stay. In a sample of 5354 participants (mean age = 73 ± 6 years), we found that participants with high IC composite z scores were less likely to have experienced hospitalization in the previous year (OR = 0.51; 95

We assessed whether clinical, functional and behavioral factors were associated with the decrease in mobility trajectories reported in older people at risk of sarcopenia (RS) and without risk of sarcopenia (NRS) during COVID-19 pandemic. We prospectively analyzed mobility trajectories reported in older adults with RS and NRS over 16-month follow-up (Remobilize study). The self-perceived risk of sarcopenia and mobility were assessed using the SARC-F and the Life-Space Assessment (LSA) tools, respectively. Gender, age, comorbidities, pain, functional limitation, physical activity (time spent in walking; min/week), and sitting time (ST; hours/day) were assessed. We used a multilevel model to determine changes in mobility between groups and over time. Mobility was lower in RS than in NRS. Older people at RS, who were women, aged 70–79 years and 80 years or older, inactive, and with moderate to severe functional limitation experienced reduced mobility trajectories reported over the pandemic. For older people at NRS, trajectories with reduce mobility reported were experienced by women with comorbidities, for those with insufficient walking time and aged 70–79 years; aged 70–79 years and with ST between 5 and 7 hours/day; for those with insufficient walking time and increased ST; and for those with pain and increased ST. Mobility trajectories reported in older people at risk of sarcopenia were negatively influenced by insufficient level of physical inactivity and pre-existing moderate to severe functional limitation. Health and social interventions should be target to avoid mobility limitation during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract Objective Identify clinical-functional factors associated to the risk of falls, assessed by Mini-BESTest in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Method This cross-sectional study. A total of 145 older adults aged ≥60 years were evaluated through sociodemographic variables (sex, age group, married, education level, general health status hearing and vision), Mini-BESTest, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and dual-task Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) Multiple logistic regression model was used. Results The sensory orientation domain presented the highest average score, followed by the gait stability, anticipatory postural adjustments and postural responses domains. Factors associated to the risk of falls in older adults are: poor/very poor visual perception OR 3.40 (1.50-7.72); have respiratory diseases OR 8.00 (1.32-48.46); feeling dizzy OR 2.53 (1.10-5.80); and TUGT (dual task) time equal to or greater than 13.5 seconds OR 3.31 (1.03-10.64). Conclusion Older adults in this study presented impaired postural balance, mainly in the postural responses domain. The knowledge of the factors associated with the risk of falls in older adults with T2DM allows for better guidance in prevention, assessment and intervention, in order to minimize the occurrence of falls and maintain or optimize postural balance. Several factors influenced this outcome, such as overweight, low physical activity and education, several comorbidities, polypharmacy, T2DM diagnosis for more than ten years, negative perception of general health and vision, and depressive symptoms.