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'Getting up from here': frail older women's experiences after falling.
1University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Nursing 65211, USA.
Summary
Older widows experiencing falls at home utilized environmental features to get up independently. When needing assistance, fall recovery became part of their home care experience, focusing on social interaction.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Phenomenology
- Home Care Research
Background:
- Limited research exists on older adults' lived experiences of falling.
- Falls are a significant concern for frail elderly individuals living at home.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the phenomenon of falling from the perspective of older widows receiving home care.
- To understand the experiences and coping strategies of frail elderly women after a fall at home.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive phenomenological study.
- In-depth interviews conducted with nine frail widows who had experienced at least one fall at home.
- Analysis of 25 interviews focusing on the experience of 'getting up from here'.
Main Results:
- Frail widows adapted their environment to aid in independent recovery after falls.
- When requiring assistance, fall recovery was integrated into the broader home care experience, emphasizing social interaction.
- Key sub-phenomena included 'finding something solid' for support during independent recovery.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the diverse experiences of falling is crucial for effective elder care.
- Sensitive interaction and appropriate risk assessment for falls in older adults require acknowledging their subjective experiences.
- Home environmental features and social support networks play vital roles in fall recovery for frail widows.