The primary objective of this study was to explore the experiences of community-dwelling older men and women with recurrent falls, with the aim of informing fall prevention strategies based on the lived experiences of older adults.
This qualitative, phenomenological study involved semi-structured interviews with 10 women and 12 men, 70 to 91 years of age, and living independently in urban and rural communities in Iceland. All participants had experienced recurrent falls. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using a framework analysis approach, combining predefined themes with inductively identified new themes. The framework drew on existing literature related to falls and ageing.
Five key themes emerged, reflecting shared experiences despite participants' varied backgrounds. The first and third themes were predefined, while the remaining themes emerged through analysis. The first theme, ‘Causes of Falls’, described individual factors (e.g. physical limitations and health conditions), environmental challenges (e.g. uneven surfaces, poor lighting, and inadequate social support), and the specific activity during the fall. The second theme, ‘The Critical Moment of a Fall’, highlighted the fall as a dynamic event involving both anticipatory reactions and immediate consequences. This included instinctive responses to prevent the fall or minimise injuries, emotional reactions such as shock and embarrassment, and physical impacts like pain and injury. The third theme, ‘Long-Term Consequences of Falls’, revealed physical consequences such as ongoing pain, emotional impacts including fear of falling and depression, and social consequences like reduced participation in social activities and strained relationships. The fourth theme, ‘Interactions with Healthcare Services, Including Physiotherapy’, highlighted physiotherapy’s role in rehabilitation, addressing physical and functional impacts. Some participants noted mismanagement and inadequate support from healthcare services. The fifth and final theme, ‘Coping Strategies and Peer Recommendations’, detailed how participants worked to prevent future falls, manage injury risk, and adapt to impaired balance while sharing advice and strategies for their peers in similar situations.
The study underscores the complexity of recurrent falls among older adults and highlights the urgent need for research to optimise physiotherapy interventions that address the multifaceted physical, emotional, and social impacts of falls. Future studies should examine how fall prevention strategies, informed by the lived experiences of older adults, can enhance outcomes and support long-term adaptation and recovery in diverse populations.
These findings offer practical insights for improving fall prevention in physiotherapy and healthcare services. Physiotherapists should prioritise the design and implementation of person-centred interventions that address the specific needs of older adults. Greater integration of physiotherapy into fall prevention programmes can enhance functional recovery, support long-term adaptation, and improve the quality of life for this population.
Aged
Qualitative research
