Older people's perspectives on fall risk and fall prevention programs: a literature review

Despite evidence supporting fall prevention methods, fall-related injury and death rates continue to rise. Understanding older people's views on fall risk and prevention will help nurses and other health professionals in the design of fall prevention strategies that will broaden their scope, reach and adoption. This literature review synthesised 19 qualitative and quantitative studies examining older people's perspectives about fall risk and prevention using a social-ecological framework. Three themes emerged about fall risk; fearing vulnerability, maintaining autonomy and independence and interpreting risk. Four themes emerged about fall prevention programs: influence of participant and program characteristics, need for personal relevance and preference, maintaining autonomy and independence and increased support for and access to programs. Implications for practice include individual, interpersonal, organizational and community level considerations for improving fall prevention efforts.