The Neighborhood Environment: Perceived Fall Risk, Resources, and Strategies for Fall Prevention

Tracy Chippendale, Marie Boltz
2014 The gerontologist  
Purpose of the Study: To explore the experience of older adults in their neighborhood in relation to perceived fall risk, fear of falling (FOF), and resources/strategies for fall prevention. Design and Methods: Fourteen older adults, 65 years of age and older from 3 urban senior centers, participated in this qualitative study. The semistructured interview guidelines and background questionnaire were developed by the researchers based on the literature and an existing measure of walkability.
more » ... tools were refined based on pilot interviews with seniors. Collaizzi's phenomenological method was used for data analysis. Results: Five themes emerged from the data: (a) The built environment contributes to perceived fall risk and FOF, (b) personal strategies used to adapt to perceived neighborhood fall risks-behavioral approaches, (c) resources for physical activity and safety, (d) barriers to physical activity and exercise, and (e) neighborhood features as a motivator. Implications: Urban-dwelling seniors perceive that neighborhood features contribute to or mitigate fall risk and FOF. Behavioral strategies are used by seniors to prevent outdoor falls. The findings can help clinicians develop targeted fall prevention interventions for well elders and help urban planners to design and retrofit urban environments to reduce fall risk. Approximately 30% of elders fall each year. Falls can cause soft tissue trauma, head injury, and fractures, resulting in decreased independence in daily living skills, increased risk of nursing home placement, and high health care costs (Center for Disease Control, 2013). Although more than half of all falls occur outdoors, the focus of fall prevention has been on intrinsic/individual factors and the home environment. Therefore, the neighborhood environment, its impact on perceived fall risk as well as fear of falling (FOF), and the resources that the neighborhood affords for fall prevention warrants further study. To address this gap, this study focused on the experience of older adults in their neighborhoods.
doi:10.1093/geront/gnu019 pmid:24836115 fatcat:llnqxomwrreazo3j4qoukzwyfu