“Being careful”: How much caution is enough? The relational context of fear of older adult falling in older adult-family caregiver dyads

Family caregivers play an important role in coping with older adult falls; however, their perspectives on fear of older adult falling are lacking from the falls prevention literature. A mixed-method design (N=25 dyads) with interview and survey data examined linguistic characteristics and coping strategies used by older adult and family caregiver dyads to manage fear of older adult falling. Fear of older adult falling consisted of both affective (e.g., worry) and cognitive (e.g., cautious) properties. Family caregivers more frequently used affective words and first-person plural pronouns (“we” language) when talking about fear of older adult falling, while older adults more frequently used cognitive and first-and-second person singular pronouns (“I”, “you”). The concept of “being careful” was shared within dyads. However, dyad partners differed in their perspectives of what constituted “being careful” and the possibilities of future falling. Findings suggest that the need for family-centered interventions to prevent falls are needed.