Development of a community engagement model for fall prevention among older adults in Sam Ngao District, Tak Province
Keywords:
Falls, Community participation, Fall prevention, Older adultsAbstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the situation, risk factors, and needs related to fall prevention among older adults, which led to the development of a community engagement model for fall prevention in Sam Ngao District, Tak Province. The study employed a research and development design, consisting of two stages: (1) studying the past situation of falls, risk factors, and needs related to fall prevention among older adults through descriptive data collection, retrospective study, home visits, and focus group discussions; and (2) developing a community engagement model through participatory workshops and expert validation.
The results revealed that significant risk factors for falls among older adults were dementia, depression, osteoarthritis, malnutrition, multiple chronic diseases, and dependence on others for self-care. The needs for fall prevention included providing knowledge to caregivers on environmental conditions and care practices. The developed community engagement model for fall prevention consisted of four main levels of participation: individuals and families, communities, local administrative organizations, and public health agencies. Key activities included education, environmental modification, health surveillance, resource support, and coordination among local agencies. The expert evaluation of the developed model found that its appropriateness was rated at the highest level (Mean = 4.51, S.D. = 0.33), and its feasibility was rated at a high level (Mean = 4.37, S.D. = 0.42). It is recommended that this model be piloted in practice and its results evaluated to improve its effectiveness and applicability.
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