Fall Prevention Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Community Stakeholders and Older Adults

We assessed knowledge, attitude, and provision of recommended fall prevention (FP) practices by employees of senior-serving organization and participation in FP practices by at-risk elders. The Washington State Department of Health administered structured telephone surveys to 50 employees and 101 el...

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Main Authors: Sharon S. Laing, Ilene F. Silver, Sally York, Elizabeth A. Phelan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Journal of Aging Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/395357
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author Sharon S. Laing
Ilene F. Silver
Sally York
Elizabeth A. Phelan
author_facet Sharon S. Laing
Ilene F. Silver
Sally York
Elizabeth A. Phelan
author_sort Sharon S. Laing
collection DOAJ
description We assessed knowledge, attitude, and provision of recommended fall prevention (FP) practices by employees of senior-serving organization and participation in FP practices by at-risk elders. The Washington State Department of Health administered structured telephone surveys to 50 employees and 101 elders in Washington State. Only 38% of employees felt “very knowledgeable” about FP, and a majority of their organizations did not regularly offer FP services. Almost half (48%) of seniors sustained a fall within the past 12 months; however, one-third perceived falling to be among their least important health concerns, and most had minimal working knowledge of proven FP practices. Seniors who perceived avoiding falls as important to their well-being were more likely to participate in practices about which they had the least knowledge (risk assessment, medication management). Increased awareness and availability of FP services might help engage older adults in FP practices and reduce the adverse effects of falls.
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spelling doaj-art-437d7870f8d54ceb8defdc6b920676062025-08-20T03:35:57ZengWileyJournal of Aging Research2090-22122011-01-01201110.4061/2011/395357395357Fall Prevention Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Community Stakeholders and Older AdultsSharon S. Laing0Ilene F. Silver1Sally York2Elizabeth A. Phelan3Health Promotion Research Center, Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USASenior Fall Prevention Program, Washington State Department of Health, Olympia, WA 98504, USANursing and Healthcare Leadership Program, University of Washington, Tacoma, WA 98402, USADivision of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine and Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USAWe assessed knowledge, attitude, and provision of recommended fall prevention (FP) practices by employees of senior-serving organization and participation in FP practices by at-risk elders. The Washington State Department of Health administered structured telephone surveys to 50 employees and 101 elders in Washington State. Only 38% of employees felt “very knowledgeable” about FP, and a majority of their organizations did not regularly offer FP services. Almost half (48%) of seniors sustained a fall within the past 12 months; however, one-third perceived falling to be among their least important health concerns, and most had minimal working knowledge of proven FP practices. Seniors who perceived avoiding falls as important to their well-being were more likely to participate in practices about which they had the least knowledge (risk assessment, medication management). Increased awareness and availability of FP services might help engage older adults in FP practices and reduce the adverse effects of falls.http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/395357
spellingShingle Sharon S. Laing
Ilene F. Silver
Sally York
Elizabeth A. Phelan
Fall Prevention Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Community Stakeholders and Older Adults
Journal of Aging Research
title Fall Prevention Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Community Stakeholders and Older Adults
title_full Fall Prevention Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Community Stakeholders and Older Adults
title_fullStr Fall Prevention Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Community Stakeholders and Older Adults
title_full_unstemmed Fall Prevention Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Community Stakeholders and Older Adults
title_short Fall Prevention Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Community Stakeholders and Older Adults
title_sort fall prevention knowledge attitude and practices of community stakeholders and older adults
url http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/395357
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