Investigating Older Adults’ Expressed Needs Regarding Falls Prevention

Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions regarding falls prevention programs for community-dwelling older adults offered in a specific geographic area. Method: The investigators conducted focus groups with 44 community-dwelling older adults in four locations. Focus group discussions were transcribed, coded, and analyzed by all investigators. Results: Themes included what people want, why people fall, what people do, impact of falls, and barriers to falls prevention participation. Older adults wanted falls prevention programs to include socialization among peers, various types of education, balance training, convenience in times and locations where falls prevention programs are offered, affordability, and independence and autonomy for decision-making. Participants believed they fell due to inattention and the aging process, and they made lifestyle changes and tried to recognize their own ability accordingly. Older adults believed the impact of falls on lifestyle was far-reaching and drastic. The main barrier to falls prevention participation was motivation, mitigated by other priorities. The Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) Model provided a framework for considering occupational impact when addressing older adults’ concerns regarding falls. Conclusions: Occupational therapists can be key contributors to falls prevention programing by developing programs that focus on current perceptions and barriers in programing and the expressed wants and needs of community-dwelling older adults.

Keywords:

• Accidental falls
• falls prevention
• community-dwelling
• older adults

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance for study design from Dr. Debasree DasGupta, former Assistant Professor, University of Indianapolis Department of Kinesiology and Public Health and Dr. Beth Ann Walker, Associate Professor, University of Indianapolis School of Occupational Therapy.

The authors presented a previous version of this study in poster format at the Indiana Occupational Therapy Association Fall Conference, November 5, 2016, Indianapolis, IN.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest to report.

Ethics

This study was approved by the University of Indianapolis Institutional Review Board (Study #0717). Informed consent was obtained from the focus group participants prior to conducting the focus groups.