Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T08:40:45.933Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Perceiving Falls within a Family Context: A Focused Ethnographic Approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Christine Kilian ,
Alan Salmoni ,
Catherine Ward-Griffin  and
Marita Kloseck
Christine Kilian
Affiliation:
School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario
Alan Salmoni*
Affiliation:
School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario
Catherine Ward-Griffin
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, University of Western Ontario
Marita Kloseck
Affiliation:
Health Science Program, University of Western Ontario
*
Requests for offprints should be sent to:/Les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à: Alan Salmoni, Ph.D., School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, School of Kinesiology, 3M Centre, London, ON N6A 3K7, (asalmoni@uwo.ca)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

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.

Résumé

La présente recherche visait à examiner les perceptions de risque des aînés et de leurs enfants adultes en ce qui a trait aux chutes. Nous avons utilisé une méthode ethnographique ciblée et soumis à une entrevue approfondie aînés et enfants adultes. L'analyse thématique a été effectuée afin de déterminer les thèmes à l'intérieur des groupes et de comparer les points de vue des aînés et des enfants adultes. Les résultats ont fait ressortir les différences dans les perceptions et les méthodes d'interaction entre les aînés et leurs enfants adultes. Trois méthodes avaient été adoptées par ces familles, articulées autour des personnes dont les actions étaient dominantes: Actions des parents, Actions partagées, et Actions cachées des enfants. Les résultats soulignaient l'importance accordée par les aînés à l'indépendance et l'effet des relations familiales multiples prenant des mesures pour éviter les chutes. La présente étude souligne l'importance d'inclure des points de vue multiples de la famille lors de la recherche portant sur la prévention des blessures chez les aînés.

Keywords

vieillissementperception des risqueschutesprévention des chutesethnographie cibléedynamique de la familleagingrisk perceptionfallsfalls preventionfocused ethnographyfamily dynamics
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 27 , Issue 4 , Winter/Hiver 2008 , pp. 331 - 345
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ballinger, C., & Payne, S. (2002). The construction of the risk of falling among and by older people. Ageing and Society, 22(3), 305–324.Google Scholar
Braun, B.J. (1998). Knowledge and perception of fall-related risk factors and fall reduction techniques among community-dwelling elderly individuals. Physical Therapy, 78(12), 1262–1276.Google Scholar
Canadian Institute of Health Information (2006). Ontario trauma registry 2005 injury highlights report. Retrieved 15 Jan. 2007 from http://www.cihi.ca/cihiweb/en/downloads/OTR_AiB_May07.pdf.Google Scholar
Denzin, N.K., Lincoln, Y.S. (2005). Introduction: The discipline and practice of qualitative research. In Denzin, N.K., & Lincoln, Y.S. (Eds.), The Sage handbook of qualitative research. (3rd ed.). (pp. 1–32) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Dyer, C.A.E., Taylor, G.J., Reed, M., Dyer, C.A., Robertson, D.R., & Harrington, R. (2004). Falls prevention in residential care homes: A randomized controlled trial. Age and Ageing, 33, 596–602.Google Scholar
Elder, G.H. (1991). Lives and social change. In Heinz, W. (Ed.), Theoretical advances in life course research. (pp. 58–85.) Weinham: Deutscher Studies Verlag.Google Scholar
Fetterman, D.M. (1998). Ethnography step by step. (2nd ed.) London: Sage.Google Scholar
Finch, J. (1989). Working it out. In Finch, J. (Ed.). Family obligations and social change. (pp. 179–211). Cambridge, MA: Basil Blackwell.Google Scholar
Fingerman, K.L. (2001). Aging mothers and their adult daughters: A study in mixed emotions. New York: Springer Series.Google Scholar
Finucane, M.L., & Holup, J.L. (2006). Risk as value: Combining affect and analysis in risk judgments. Journal of Risk Research, 9(2), 141–164.Google Scholar
Guba, E., Lincoln, Y. (1989). Judging the quality of fourth generation evaluation. In Guba, E., & Lincoln, Y. (Eds.), Fourth generation evaluation (pp. 228–251). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Health Canada (2006). Canadian reference group on social determinants of health. Retrieved 31 Jan. 2007 from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/media/nr-rp/2006/2006_06bk3_e.html.Google Scholar
Horton, K., & Arber, S. (2004). Gender and the negotiation between older people and their carers in the prevention of falls. Ageing and Society, 24, 75–94.Google Scholar
Katz, S. (2005). Cultural aging: Life course, lifestyle, and senior worlds. Peterborough: Broadview Press.Google Scholar
Knoblauch, H. (2005). Focused ethnography. Forum: Qualitative Social Research. 6(3), art. 44. Retrieved 20 June 2006 from http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/20/43.Google Scholar
Lam, L.T. (2005). Parental risk perceptions of childhood pedestrian road safety: A cross cultural comparison. Journal of Safety Research, 36, 181–187.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leininger, M.M. (1985). Qualitative research methods in nursing. Orlando, FL: Grune & Stratton, Inc.Google Scholar
Liddle, J., & Gilleard, C. (1995). The emotional consequences of falls for older people and their families. Clinical Rehabilitation, 9, 110–114.Google Scholar
Loewenstein, G.F., Hsee, C.K., Weber, E.U., & Welch, N. (2001). Risk as feelings. Psychological Bulletin, 127(2), 267–286.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martin-Matthews, A., & Campbell, L.D. (2000). Caring sons: Exploring men's involvement in filial care. Canadian Journal on Aging, 19(1), 57–79.Google Scholar
Matthews, S.H. (2002). Sisters and brothers/daughters and sons: Meeting the needs of old parents. Bloomington, IN: Unlimited Publishing.Google Scholar
Morse, J.M. (2007). Does health research warrant the modification of qualitative methods? Qualitative Health Research, 17(7), 863–865.Google Scholar
Public Health Agency of Canada (2004). Population health: What determines health?. Retrieved 7 Feb. 2007 from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ph-sp/determinants/index-eng.php.Google Scholar
Pyke, K. (1999). The micropolitics of care in relationships between aging parents and adult children: Individualism, collectivism and power. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 61, 661–672.Google Scholar
Rogers, M.E., Rogers, N.L., Takeshima, N., & Islam, M.M. (2003). Methods to assess and improve the physical parameters associated with falls risk in older adults. Preventative Medicine, 36, 255–264.Google Scholar
Savage, L.J. (1954). The foundations of statistics. New York, NY: Wiley.Google Scholar
Slovic, P. (2000). The perception of risk. Sterling, VA: Earthscan Publications.Google Scholar
Slovic, P., Finucane, M.L., Peters, E., & MacGregor, D.G. (2004). Risk as analysis and risk as feelings: Some thoughts about affect, reason, risk and rationality. Risk Analysis, 24(2), 311–322.Google Scholar
Smallegan, M. (1983). How families decide on nursing home admission. Geriatric Consultant, 1(5), 21–24.Google Scholar
Smith, C. (2006). Engaging the emotional, financial, and physical ramifications of long-distance caregiving. Home Health Care Management & Practice, 18(6), 463–466.Google Scholar
Tedlock, B. (2000). Ethnography and ethnographic representation. In Denzin, N.K., & Lincoln, Y.S. (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research. (2nd ed.). (pp. 455–486). London: Sage.Google Scholar
Tinetti, M.E., Speechley, M., & Ginter, S.F. (1988). Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community. New England Journal of Medicine, 319(6), 1701–1706.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Walker, A. (1991). The relationship between the family and the state in the care of older people. Canadian Journal on Aging, 10(2), 94–112.Google Scholar
Ward-Griffin, C., & Marshall, V.W. (2003). Reconceptualizing the relationship between “public” and “private” eldercare. Journal of Aging Studies, 17, 189–208.Google Scholar
Ward-Griffin, C., Hobson, S., Melles, P., Kloseck, M., Vandervoort, A., & Crilly, R. (2004). Falls and fear of falling among community dwelling seniors: The dynamic tension between exercising precaution and striving for independence. Canadian Journal on Aging, 23(4), 307–318.Google Scholar
Wilkins, K. (1999). Health care consequences of falls for seniors. Health Reports, 10(4), 47–55.Google ScholarPubMed
Yardley, L., Donovan-Hall, M., Francis, K., & Todd, C. (2006). Older people's views of advice about falls prevention: a qualitative study. Health Education Research, 21(4), 508–517.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed