A Thematic Analysis of Lived Experiences of Falls in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Whilst middle-aged and older fallers showed similar ratings of concern about falling, the behaviours underlying these were qualitatively different. For older adults, concerns led to protective adaptations to reduce their fall risk. Contrastingly, middle-aged adults showed a lack of personal responsibility over their fall risk. The findings highlight the importance of early educational intervention to reduce future falls and frailty.