Management Process of Fear of Falling Among Hospitalized Older Patients with Fall Experience

J Gerontol Soc Work. 2024 Dec 10:1-18. doi: 10.1080/01634372.2024.2435894. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

This study sought to explore the management process of FOF among the older adults patients hospitalized due to falls. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were performed with 21 older patients. Three types of coping strategies were developed by hospitalized older adults: primary management of explaining the reason of falls by attributing it to inevitable consequence of aging as well as accidental events; secondary management of fear including self-consolation, downstairs comparison and distraction from fear, as well as confronting and reflecting fear; and tertiary management of the consequences of falling such as active rehabilitation, food therapy, seeking emotional support etc.

Keywords: Fear of falling (FOF); fear and avoidance theory; hospitalized elder adults; management of FOF.