Co-designing a technology-enhanced fall-prevention program for community-dwelling older adults: a qualitative...

The growing aging population creates an accentuated demand for care, especially in New Brunswick, which is one of Canada's provinces with the oldest population. In New Brunswick, an average of eight seniors are admitted to the hospital daily due to fall-related injuries, highlighting the urgent need for fall prevention programs. Thus, the current study explored the barriers and facilitators associated with participation in a fall prevention program using physical activity and technology amongst seniors, healthcare providers and managers in New Brunswick. The goal of this study is to inform the creation of a fall prevention physical activity program that incorporates technology.

A total of 34 participants participated in this pre-implementation qualitative study. Utilizing verbatims from a combination of semi-structured interviews (10 participants) and focus groups (24 participants), a thematic analysis was conducted to extract main themes.

The conducted thematic analysis highlighted five main themes relative to resources, participation, inclusion of technology, importance of socializing, and recruitment and retention efforts. The results emphasize that an effective fall prevention program for seniors should be flexible, enjoyable, and well-supported with sufficient resources and infrastructure.  CONCLUSION: Enhancing technological literacy and creating a supportive atmosphere for technology use can help alleviate some of the seniors' hesitance. Social elements and inclusivity are vital, as they encourage engagement and participation, which are key to the program's success.