Single-Session Evidence-Based Intervention and Fall Risk Awareness in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Purpose: To determine effects of a fall risk educational program on fall risk awareness. Methods: Twenty-five community-dwelling older adults 65 years and older attended a single-session intervention. Investigators held focus groups 1 month post-intervention. Investigators administered the Short Falls Efficacy Scale-International (S-FES-I) pre- and post-intervention. Results: Raw S-FES-I scores trended toward reduced fear of falling. Older adults reported heightened awareness of fall risks and reinforcement of fall prevention behaviors. Social support and narrative storytelling helped motivate participants. Conclusion: A single-session educational program reinforced existing fall risk reduction knowledge and behaviors but was limited in its ability to prompt behavioral change.