Understanding carers' fall concern and their management of fall risk among older people at home.

Ang, SGM; O'Brien, AP; Wilson, A

Understanding carers' fall concern and their management of fall risk among older people at home.

Ang, SGM O'Brien, AP Wilson, A

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Publisher:: BMC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: BMC Geriatr, 2019, 19, (1), pp. 144
Issue Date:: 2019-05-24

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Ang, SGM
dc.contributor.author	O'Brien, AP
dc.contributor.author	Wilson, A https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5681-9611
dc.date.accessioned	2022-08-19T03:57:52Z
dc.date.available	2019-05-21
dc.date.available	2022-08-19T03:57:52Z
dc.date.issued	2019-05-24
dc.identifier.citation	BMC Geriatr, 2019, 19, (1), pp. 144
dc.identifier.issn	1471-2318
dc.identifier.issn	1471-2318
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/160511
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: Many older people (care recipients) experience long-term psychological distress due to the fear of falling again. Falls can affect carers due to concerns about their care recipients falling. Understanding carers' fall concern is crucial to determine if carers are coping with the provision of care or have adequate knowledge and support in preventing their care recipients from falling at home. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted to explore carers' concern about their care recipients being at risk of falling and their management of fall risk at home. Twenty-two carers were recruited from two research registers and a large tertiary hospital in a regional centre of Australia. Carers were interviewed face-to-face, or by telephone using a semi-structured interview guide about their fall concern. The data was analysed using an inductive content analysis method. RESULTS: Eight major themes emerged from the interviews. Four themes described key factors influencing carers' fall concern which include: 1) carers' perception of fall and fall risk, 2) care recipients' behaviour and attitude towards fall risk, 3) care recipients' health and function, and 4) care recipients' living environment. Another four themes described the management of care recipients' fall risk which include: 5) fall prevention strategies used, 6) risk of preventing falls, 7) support from family and friends, and 8) support from healthcare professionals. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this qualitative study provide an insight into the carers' awareness of fall risk, knowledge, and the availability of support in preventing their care recipients from falling at home. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to include carers and address their fall concern to improve fall prevention programmes for care recipients at risk of falling at home.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	BMC
dc.relation.ispartof	BMC Geriatr
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1186/s12877-019-1162-7
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1103 Clinical Sciences, 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Geriatrics
dc.subject.mesh	Accidental Falls
dc.subject.mesh	Adaptation, Psychological
dc.subject.mesh	Aged
dc.subject.mesh	Aged, 80 and over
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Caregivers
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Independent Living
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Risk Factors
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Risk Factors
dc.subject.mesh	Adaptation, Psychological
dc.subject.mesh	Accidental Falls
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Aged
dc.subject.mesh	Aged, 80 and over
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged
dc.subject.mesh	Caregivers
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Independent Living
dc.title	Understanding carers' fall concern and their management of fall risk among older people at home.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	19
utslib.location.activity	England
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences
utslib.for	1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-08-19T03:57:49Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	19
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Many older people (care recipients) experience long-term psychological distress due to the fear of falling again. Falls can affect carers due to concerns about their care recipients falling. Understanding carers' fall concern is crucial to determine if carers are coping with the provision of care or have adequate knowledge and support in preventing their care recipients from falling at home. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted to explore carers' concern about their care recipients being at risk of falling and their management of fall risk at home. Twenty-two carers were recruited from two research registers and a large tertiary hospital in a regional centre of Australia. Carers were interviewed face-to-face, or by telephone using a semi-structured interview guide about their fall concern. The data was analysed using an inductive content analysis method. RESULTS: Eight major themes emerged from the interviews. Four themes described key factors influencing carers' fall concern which include: 1) carers' perception of fall and fall risk, 2) care recipients' behaviour and attitude towards fall risk, 3) care recipients' health and function, and 4) care recipients' living environment. Another four themes described the management of care recipients' fall risk which include: 5) fall prevention strategies used, 6) risk of preventing falls, 7) support from family and friends, and 8) support from healthcare professionals. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this qualitative study provide an insight into the carers' awareness of fall risk, knowledge, and the availability of support in preventing their care recipients from falling at home. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to include carers and address their fall concern to improve fall prevention programmes for care recipients at risk of falling at home.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/160511