A large Irish research programme: Technology Research for Independent Living (TRIL [1]) worked closely with a fallers’ expert panel of 7 older people (aged 70-84 yrs) to produce a series of short audio visual discussion programmes on falling and fear of falling. These added to daily broadcasts that featured within a TRIL pilot study, exploring use of home based advanced telephone technology to ameliorate social isolation (Wherton and Prendergast 2009 [2])

Bailey, Cathy

English

Northumbria Research Link

ProFaNEPrevention of Falls Network Europe Suppor t ing  Fa l l s  Prevent ion  Pro fess iona ls  Wor ldw ideC ommun i t y  O n l i neProFaNE, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work,University of Manchester, University Place, Oxford Road,Manchester M13 9PL Great Britainhttp://www.profane.eu.org/Brought to you in association withBritish Geriatric Society Falls and Bone Health SectionPage 2Research Highlight: Tackling fear of falling through a peer sharing strategy - Dr Cathy BaileyA large Irish research programme: Technology Research for Independent Living (TRIL [1]) worked closely with a fallers’ expert panel of 7 older people (aged 70-84 yrs) to produce a series of short audio visual discussion programmes on falling and fear of falling. These added to daily broadcasts that featured within a TRIL pilot study, exploring use of home based advanced telephone technology to ameliorate social isolation (Wherton and Prendergast 2009 [2]). There were conflicting views about ambulatory aids (walking stick, walking frame), these referred to as either liberating or stigmatizing. There was animated discussion about the reactions of other people to falling.  There was ambivalence about confiding in the family.  The expert panel strongly articulated ‘slowing down’ as an intervention that everyone speaks of, from health professionals to family and friends.  This can cause resentment, a feeling that the older person is to blame for the falls. Some members spoke of not being fallers, rather they ‘trip’ or ‘stumble’; or not just a faller.  Earlier TRIL research supports this lay experience (Romero-Ortuno et al. 2009 [3].A discussion about the embarrassment of falling in public led to reflections on intergenerational vulnerability to falling. The panel strongly agreed that falls prevention needs to be a societal as well as a personal responsibility.  The panel agreed four topics that they felt would provide useful discussion points for thinking through strategies to deal with falls and fear of falling: falling and ageism (intergenerational aspects of falls); home modifications and maintenance; keeping physically active and coping strategies.  They also noted that ageism surrounding falling needed to be addressed.  ProFaNE’s recommendations include: promoting benefits that fit with a positive self-identity and utilizing a variety of forms of social encouragement to engage older people.  Our strategy engaged older adults in falls related discussions over a period of time and from within a community of interest that was free from familial and professional ‘ties’.  Peer group sharing seemed to be both a way of opening up the silence surrounding falls incidences and of placing falls within the wider context of every day life and intergenerational experiences.  Peer learning and sharing may compliment falls and fear of falling prevention strategies.Thank you to all  participants for their time and energy. Also  Karen King, Ben Dromey, Ciaran Wynne, Dr Lisa Cogan and Dr Cormac Sheehan, facilitators  and all TRIL staff who contributed. Special thanks to Dr. Cliodhna ni Scanaill, Health Research Technologist, Falls Co-Principal Investigator, TRIL Digital Health Group, Intel Ireland; Dr. Simon Roberts, Ethnography Co-Principal Investigator, Digital Health Group, Intel Ireland and  Dr Mimi Fan, former TRIL Clinical DirectorDr. Cathy BaileyList of resources:[1] http://www.profane.eu.org/directory/display_resource.php?resource_id=1834[2] http://www.springer.com/computer/hci/book/978-3-642-10307-0[3] http://www.profane.eu.org/directory/display_resource.php?resource_id=2203

Tackling fear of falling through a peer sharing strategy

Northumbria Research Link
Citation:  Bailey,  Cathy  (2010)  Tackling  fear  of  falling  through  a  peer  sharing  strategy.  ProFaNE 
Newsletter, 3 (1). p. 2. 
Published by: Prevention of Falls Network
URL: 
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ProFaNE
Prevention of Falls Network Europe Suppor t ing  Fa l l s  Prevent ion  Pro fess iona ls  Wor ldw ide
C ommun i t y  O n l i ne
ProFaNE, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work,
University of Manchester, University Place, Oxford Road,
Manchester M13 9PL Great Britain
http://www.profane.eu.org/
Brought to you in association with
British Geriatric Society Falls 
and Bone Health Section
Page 2
Research Highlight: Tackling fear of falling through a peer sharing 
strategy - Dr Cathy Bailey
A large Irish research programme: Technology 
Research for Independent Living (TRIL [1]) worked 
closely with a fallers’ expert panel of 7 older people 
(aged 70-84 yrs) to produce a series of short audio 
visual discussion programmes on falling and fear 
of falling. These added to daily broadcasts that 
featured within a TRIL pilot study, exploring use of 
home based advanced telephone technology 
to ameliorate social isolation (Wherton and 
Prendergast 2009 [2]). 
There were conflicting views about ambulatory aids 
(walking stick, walking frame), these referred to as 
either liberating or stigmatizing. There was animated 
discussion about the reactions of other people to 
falling.  There was ambivalence about confiding 
in the family.  The expert panel strongly articulated 
‘slowing down’ as an intervention that everyone 
speaks of, from health professionals to family and 
friends.  This can cause resentment, a feeling that 
the older person is to blame for the falls. Some 
members spoke of not being fallers, rather they ‘trip’ 
or ‘stumble’; or not just a faller.  Earlier TRIL research 
supports this lay experience (Romero-Ortuno et al. 
2009 [3].
A discussion about the embarrassment of falling 
in public led to reflections on intergenerational 
vulnerability to falling. The panel strongly agreed 
that falls prevention needs to be a societal as well 
as a personal responsibility.  The panel agreed 
four topics that they felt would provide useful 
discussion points for thinking through strategies 
to deal with falls and fear of falling: falling and 
ageism (intergenerational aspects of falls); home 
modifications and maintenance; keeping physically 
active and coping strategies.  They also noted 
that ageism surrounding falling needed to be 
addressed.  
ProFaNE’s 
recommendations 
include: promoting 
benefits that fit with 
a positive self-identity 
and utilizing a variety 
of forms of social 
encouragement to 
engage older people.  
Our strategy engaged 
older adults in falls 
related discussions 
over a period of time 
and from within a 
community of interest 
that was free from 
familial and professional 
‘ties’.  Peer group sharing seemed to be both a 
way of opening up the silence surrounding falls 
incidences and of placing falls within the wider 
context of every day life and intergenerational 
experiences.  Peer learning and sharing may 
compliment falls and fear of 
falling prevention strategies.
Thank you to all  
participants for their time 
and energy. Also  Karen 
King, Ben Dromey, Ciaran 
Wynne, Dr Lisa Cogan 
and Dr Cormac Sheehan, 
facilitators  and all TRIL staff 
who contributed. Special thanks to Dr. Cliodhna ni 
Scanaill, Health Research Technologist, Falls Co-
Principal Investigator, TRIL Digital Health Group, Intel 
Ireland; Dr. Simon Roberts, Ethnography Co-Principal 
Investigator, Digital Health Group, Intel Ireland and  
Dr Mimi Fan, former TRIL Clinical Director
Dr. Cathy Bailey
List of resources:
[1] http://www.profane.eu.org/directory/display_resource.php?resource_id=1834
[2] http://www.springer.com/computer/hci/book/978-3-642-10307-0
[3] http://www.profane.eu.org/directory/display_resource.php?resource_id=2203


http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/155/1/bailey_Tackling%20fear%20of%20falling%20through%20a%20peer%20sharing%20strategy.pdf

Tackling fear of falling through a peer sharing strategy

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