The Development of Falls Prevention Model for Elderly by Participation of Community Networks Maha Sarakham Province

Abstract

This action research aimed to study the situation, develop a model, and evaluate the effectiveness of fall prevention programs for elderly people in Maha Sarakham Province. The study involved 156 purposively selected participants, including 100 elderly individuals, 40 caregivers, and 16 stakeholders. Data were collected through questionnaires, fall risk screening tools, focus group discussions, and observations. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage,mean, maximum and minimum values, and content analysis.The findings revealed that 1) Elderly participants were at risk of falling due to lack of knowledge and preventive guidelines, having above-normal BMI, history of falls, and inappropriate living conditions. 2) The developed model emphasized participation throughout seven activities (1) fall risk screening, (2) establishing practical guidelines, (3) developing learning manuals, (4) conducting workshops, (5) home visits, (6) developing innovations for leg muscle strengthening, and (7) improving residential environments. 3) The outcomes showed that (1) The Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) results improved - the percentage of participants taking more than 20 seconds decreased from 15% to 10%, those taking 13.50-19.99 seconds decreased from 85% to 15%, and those taking less than 13.50 seconds increased by 60%; (2) practical guidelines and innovations for fall prevention were established (3) collaborative learning emerged with success factors identified as 3C 2E 2P.