Stakeholder perspectives of fall prevention for older Australians with vision impairment: “it’s just a matter of adapting them accordingly”

Abstract

Aim

To investigate stakeholders’ perspectives of fall prevention programs for older adults with vision impairment.

Methods

Twenty-two stakeholders (client facing professionals, service managers, and policy makers), with expertise in fall prevention or vision impairment, from organisations in south-eastern Australia, participated in this study. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted over-the-phone (n = 19) and face-to-face (n = 3), and analysed deductively using content analysis into the following system level factors for health promotion interventions seen within the behaviour change wheel: Fiscal measures; Guidelines; Communication and marketing; and Service provision.

Results

Five key themes were identified: (1) insufficient guidelines or referral pathways; (2) ongoing funding to secure service delivery and best practice implementation; (3) marketing approach: honouring consumer’s perceptions of themselves; (4) practical suggestions for program delivery; and (5) incorporation into existing services. Stakeholders considered fall prevention for those with vision impairment as essential in preventative healthcare, but did not have a clear understanding of where to refer or how to deliver a fall prevention service for this population.

Conclusions

This study supports the delivery of fall prevention programs in older adults with vision impairment, but highlights the need to incorporate stakeholder perspectives into the design and delivery of such programs to ensure barriers to implementation in real world settings.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Older adults with vision impairment are at a high risk of falls but currently have very little access to fall prevention programs.

• Results support the delivery of fall prevention programs to older adults with vision impairment through existing services, as long as professionals are provided with adequate service delivery guidelines, referral pathways, and fall prevention specific education and professional development opportunities.

• A variety of service provision, such as group and home-based programs, or using technology, may be cost-effective and improve older adults with vision impairments’ adherence to fall prevention programs.

Keywords:

• Vision impairment
• fall prevention
• policy
• exercise
• stakeholder perspectives

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Lisa Dillon was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship from the University of New South Wales.