Thank you to all older adults who took part in the Stay On Your Feet® 2021 survey or interview. It was an interesting time for this work because many of the activities older adults were involved with were impacted by restrictions linked to COVID-19. We learned about how and why people engage with the falls prevention activities and outcomes in the time since you took part, and wanted to share these findings with you.
Our ‘typical’ respondent was female, aged 71-80 years and lived in their own home (with or without a spouse/partner). The reason why you attended a Stay On Your Feet® activity was varied. Some of you were driven by a specific interest in fall’s prevention knowledge, feeling you were at an age where this should be known, or you were supporting/encouraging someone else to attend. Others attended out of curiosity, being keen to take part in different community and social opportunities.
“I’m always interested in keeping my balance because I speak to so many people that have had falls. I know nobody is going to look after me so I’ve got to look after myself and make sure I don’t have these falls, so I’m always interested in what steps I can take to avoid falls”
Most of you well understood that falls can be prevented in older people and 60% of you reported no falls, slips or trips in the previous 12 months. This is a great outcome but of course can be improved. Another positive was that when falls did occur, very few resulted in an injury. We spoke with some people who had fallen, and they described the experience as being a wakeup call and that they are much more careful since:
“I had a slight fall off some steps that I shouldn’t have even been using, and that shook me up – so ever since then I’ve been very careful”
“I had one or two falls that made me stop and think”
Protective and risk factors are generally understood with different physical, behavioural, and environmental factors well described. These included the key features of the Stay On Your Feet® program Move Improve Remove.
Since taking part in the program, a lot of you have made simple changes including:
“I have continued with the exercise recommendations, I am very conscious of medication, I moved some smaller mats in the house. I am now very aware of obstacles and things like that. I don’t go outside, down the steps at night – I turn the lights on first. I think ‘Take your time, hold on’ “
“Well, since attending, I mean the hose has been put away, everything along the path – the passage – I have a young lady that comes and helps me with the housework that I can’t do and she sweeps the path for me and she – if it’s out the back, she’ll – if there’s weeds growing over, she’ll pull the weeds out and stuff like that. Whereas before, I probably wouldn’t have bothered”
It just made me more aware of how easily things can happen. I’ve also had some friends who have fallen and that has made me more aware. I used to dash across the road to get a bus, but I don’t do that anymore
Most participants enjoyed and benefited from participation in Stay On Your Feet®. We noted the important role that each of you have in spreading knowledge among peers about falls prevention and healthy ageing. Together with findings we gained from the falls prevention health professionals, your feedback had been shared with Injury Matters to integrate into future program delivery.
Written by Dr Lauren Fortington, ECU.
Lauren is from the School of Medical and Health Sciences at Edith Cowan University. Her research aims to support active Australians to participate safely in sport, work and everyday activity. This includes work in falls prevention to keep older people safe at home and in their community.
In early 2023, participants will have another opportunity to provide feedback about their involvement with Stay On Your Feet®.