A process model of engaging dementia care partners in fall risk management for health professionals

Family/friend care partners play an important role in managing fall risk for community-dwelling older people with dementia. Despite a lack of evidence-based strategies, health professionals have experiential knowledge in engaging care partners in fall risk management (FRM). The objective of this study was to develop a process model describing how experienced health professionals engage care partners in FRM for community-dwelling older people with dementia.

We used a qualitative descriptive approach and obtained semistructured interview data from 22 health professionals who had at least 5 years of direct clinical experience with community-dwelling older people with dementia. Interview data were examined by inductive/deductive hybrid thematic analysis.

The analysis of interview data suggested a novel process model whereby health professionals engage dementia care partners in FRM. The model mapped 22 activities into 6 discrete steps: (re)connect with care partners, determine when and how to engage care partners in FRM, collect information for fall risk assessment, make decisions and create a care plan for FRM, implement the FRM care plan, and review the care plan and determine if adjustments are needed. The process model also presents characteristics of the triadic care team and service organization and system-level factors that may influence how health professionals engage care partners in FRM.

The process model derived from this study can inform the development of interventions and training programs for health professionals to effectively engage care partners in managing fall risk for community-dwelling older people with dementia.