Understanding the Experiences of the Community-Dwelling Older Adults of the FallProofTM Program

• Understanding the Experiences of the Community-Dwelling Older Adults of the FallProofTM Program

• Author / Creator

  Osho, Oluwaseyi Abigail

• Background: One in three community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years or older experience at least one fall per year, leading to fall-related injuries, loss of independence, and, in some instances, death. Effective interventional strategies exist to prevent falls and their negative consequences in community-dwelling older adults. The FallProof™ program is a balance and mobility program for fall prevention offered through the Calgary Fall Prevention Clinic to community-dwelling older adults who have a history of falls. Although evidence established the effectiveness of this program in reducing fall risks, little is known about the perspectives of community-dwelling older people with respect to the program.
  Objective: To explore the perspectives of community-dwelling older adults with a history of falls of a twelve-week FallProof™ program led by physiotherapists.
  Method: A qualitative description approach was used to explore the perspectives of ten community-dwelling older participants (seven women and three men) aged 65+ years who completed the 12-week FallProof™ program. Participants were recruited using a purposive sampling method. Individual interviews were conducted at participants’ homes, using a semi-structured interview guide. The interviewer’s observations during the interview sessions and reflective ideas were documented in field notes. Interviews and participants’ observation data from the field notes were transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative technique.
  Results: The overall theme, “An award-winning program” was identified. Three categories supported this theme: 1) Participants experience fall-related benefits; 2) A variety of activities and great instructors empowered participation; and 3) Deterrents to participation.
  Conclusion: Participants’ experiences of the FallProofTM program were positive. They reported that the program met their fall prevention needs, and despite some challenges with chronic health conditions and life events relating to family responsibilities and unfavourable weather, they were motivated by the exercise program. Participants’ perspectives guide a patient-centred approach to facilitate future delivery of FallProofTM program. Specifically, improving program awareness, maintaining content and mode of delivery, and extending duration of the FallProof™ program may optimize program implementation in future practice.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Fall prevention
  • Older adults
  • Qualitative study

• Graduation date

  Fall 2019

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-v2z3-d261

• License

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