Appetite and falls: Old age and lived experiences

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Falls in older adults represent a significant public health issue.
• The relationship between falling and appetite remains understudied, despite poor nutrition being a known fall risk factor.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how older adults experiencing recurrent falls perceive and describe their appetite in daily life.
• To understand the multifaceted nature of appetite beyond food consumption in this population.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing narrative in-depth interviews.
• Interpretative phenomenological analysis of participant experiences.
• Involved eight women and four men with multiple falls within a year.

Main Results:

• Three core themes emerged: appetite for food, social relations, and influence.
• Eating required self-discipline; meals were viewed as necessary for survival rather than desire.
• Ambivalence and complex feelings surrounded appetite loss; food was seen as medicine and a strengthener.
• Social connections and relationships provided support and security.
• A desire for influence and social connectedness motivated community re-engagement.

Conclusions:

• Fall prevention requires a multi-dimensional approach, integrating medical, humanistic, and societal perspectives.
• Addressing appetite in its broader sense (social, influence) is vital for comprehensive fall prevention.
• Enhancing social connectedness and personal influence can be incentives for older adults to maintain community engagement and well-being.