Perceiving Falls within a Family Context: A Focused Ethnographic Approach

Authors

Christine Kilian, University of Western Ontario
Alan Salmoni, University of Western Ontario
Catherine Ward-Griffin, University of Western Ontario
Marita Kloseck, University of Western Ontario

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Winter 2008

Journal

Canadian Journal on Aging

Volume

27

Issue

4

First Page

331

Last Page

345

URL with Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/cja.0.0039

Abstract

The purpose of the present research was to examine the perceptions of risk regarding falling held by older adults and their adult children. Using a focused ethnographic approach, older adults and adult children were interviewed in depth. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify themes within groups and to compare the perspectives of older adults and adult children. Findings highlighted differences in perceptions and approaches to action between older adults and their adult children. There were three approaches to action adopted by these families, which focused around whose actions were dominant: parents' actions, shared actions, and children's secret actions. The results emphasize the value placed on independence by older adults and the impact of multiple family relations taking action to prevent falls. The present study points to the importance of including multiple family perspectives in research concerning injury prevention for older adults.