A process model of engaging dementia care partners in fall risk management for health professionals.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Family/friend care partners play an important role in managing fall risk for community-dwelling older people with dementia. Despite a lack of evidence-based strategies, health professionals have experiential knowledge in engaging care partners in fall risk management (FRM). The objective of this study was to develop a process model describing how experienced health professionals engage care partners in FRM for community-dwelling older people with dementia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We used a qualitative descriptive approach and obtained semi-structured interview data from 22 health professionals who had at least five years of direct clinical experience with community-dwelling older people with dementia. Interview data were examined by inductive/deductive hybrid thematic analysis. RESULTS: The analysis of interview data suggested a novel process model whereby health professionals engage dementia care partners in FRM. The model mapped 22 activities into six discrete steps: (re)connect with care partners; determine when and how to engage care partners in FRM; collect information for fall risk assessment; make decisions and create a care plan for FRM; implement FRM care plan; review the care plan and determine if adjustments are needed. The process model also presents characteristics of the triadic care team and service organization and system-level factors that may influence how health professionals engage care partners in FRM. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The process model derived from this study can inform the development of interventions and training programs for health professionals to effectively engage care partners in managing fall risk for community-dwelling older people with dementia.