Introduction. The fall is a sudden and unintended change of a body position from a higher to a lower level. This is the main cause of injuries for the elderly people; there have been very few studies devoted to the falls of hospitalized patients. Aim. The main aim of this research was to evaluate the risk factors for inpatients falls in the geriatric ward and to analyse the research results by the stabilometric platform. Materials and methods. The study included 261 patients admitted to the geriatric ward at the age of 76.4 ± 7.65 years (± SD); 150 women and 111 men. Self-reliance was assessed using the Barthel Index, mental state - by MMSE, the occurance of depression – by GDS, the balance using the stabilometric platform, risk of falling – according to the ‘Get up and go’ test. Results. In the MMSE 6% obtained <19 points, according to GDS 26% had symptoms of depression and according to the Barthel Index 93% were self-reliant. In the "Get up and go" test, 19% had a high risk of falls, in the stabilometric test, men showed a bigger balance disorders. Risk factors for falls are: pain – 76%, weakness – 67%, ≥ 4 patients in the hospital room – 66%, a large number of medicines ≥ 5 – 61% visual impairment – 58%, dizziness – 51%. In 6% there were found 0–2 risk factors for falls, in 46% – 3-5, in 37% – 6-8, in 11% – 9–11 factors. Four patients experienced a fall, three cases were defined as patients without significant cognitive impairment, one case was defined as a patient with a delirium syndrome. One fall was complicated by a slight facial and wrist injuries. Conclusions. Geriatric ward patients are a group of people, burdened with a high risk of falls. The main risk factors for falls on a geriatric ward include: pain, weakness, polypragmasie, visual impairment and balance disorders.

Key words: falls, elderly people, risk factors, geriatric, stabilometric platform.