Work

“How did I fall?”A narrative analysis of fall experiences among older adults in China

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Falls have become the leading cause of accidental injury among Chinese adults aged 65 and older, with incidence rates increasing with age. This study aims to provide evidence-based support for developing prevention strategies by exploring the experiences and perceptions of older adults during falls. METHODS: From March to August 2024, we recruited 26 elderly individuals aged 65 years or older who had experienced a fall in the past year from the Liaocheng region of Shandong Province, China, as research subjects. We collected data through face-to-face semi-structured interviews, and all participants were anonymized. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants' fall experiences are individualized and complex. The analysis identified four main themes: (i) explanations of the causes of falls; (ii) perceptions and responses following falls; (iii) consequences of falls; and (iv) subsequent behavioral changes. CONCLUSIONS: The study's findings demonstrate the complexity and diversity of older persons' fall experiences. To effectively prevent falls, individualized intervention systems and fall prevention strategies must consider individual differences in risk perception, incorporate environmental hazard identification and multifaceted interventions, and concurrently concentrate on fall prevention, response guidance during falls, physical and mental rehabilitation following falls, and the establishment of subsequent scientific preventive behaviors.

Source: BMC Public Health

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-026-26445-x