The Development of Falls Prevention Model for Elderly by Participation of Community Partnership Networks

Abstract

This action research aims to study fall situations among the elderly in the community, strategies for developing a fall prevention model for the elderly, and outcomes of post-research development. The research area was a rural community. The participants in the study were selected by purposing sampling divided into 4 phases: the preparation and situation observation phase with 300 elderly, 20 elderly caregivers, and 24 partnership networks; the research and evaluation phase with 30 elderly, 30 caregivers, and 15 partnership networks. General data were collected using a questionnaire, and qualitative data were collected using group discussions, group meetings, and participant observation. The general data were analyzed by numbers, percentages, the maximum and minimum values. For the qualitative data, content analysis was used. The results of the study showed that 1) the falls situation among the elderly, they were at risk of falling, lacked knowledge and understanding of self-defense, guidelines for building muscle strength in the legs, and inappropriate housing environment arrangement. 2) Development strategies include creating participation in the situation observation, restoring data, prioritizing problems, making decisions, planning, as well as implementing and evaluating. The activities in the operation include risk screening of falls, developing a guide, developing activities for strengthening leg muscles and balance, workshops, increasing potentials in fall prevention, home visits, and developing innovation to strengthen leg muscles. 3) The results revealed that leg muscle strength and the balance of the elderly before and after the experiment tended to favorably change. The time of balance was less than 13.50 seconds in 10 people (33.33%). Before the experiment. The duration of 13.50-19.99 seconds was reduced in 13 people (43.33%), and the duration of more than 20 seconds was reduced in 7 people (23.33%). Additionally, the participants have learned together to seek ways to prevent falls among the elderly.