Assessing Older Adults’ Readiness For Adopting Fall Prevention Recommendations Using The Transtheoretical Stages Of Change

Journal of Applied Gerontology, Ahead of Print.
Objectives: Reducing fall risk requires older adults (age 65+) to adopt effective prevention strategies. This study has three aims: 1) understand Stage of Change (SOC) for three fall prevention strategies; 2) determine strategies older adults’ use; and 3) understand which characteristics relate to readiness to take action. Methods: A survey of 1063 older adults assessed fall risk, SOC, and use of fall prevention strategies. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Results: The most common SOC for older adults by strategy was action for overall fall prevention (61%), contemplation for medication management (45%), and preparation and action for strength/balance (29% each). Believing falls are preventable was most strongly related to being in a Change stage (e.g., action, maintenance) for overall fall prevention (Risk Ratio: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.7). Discussion: Health promotion can focus on increasing knowledge of evidence-based fall prevention strategies to encourage older adults to take action.