Fall concern among carers of an older person / Nur Aina Asyiqin Mohd Nazmi

Carers play an essential part in caring for the older person at home and keeping the older person from falling. Older people fall at least once a year, resulting in many devastating complications that affect the older person and the carers. It has a significant impact on an older person's life and affects the overall dynamics of the family as the caregivers. Carers may face similar fall-related concerns as their older person did. Excessive caregivers' concerns about falls are likely to increase the risk of falls for older people, and some are reluctant to leave their elderly alone. This may add up to the capacity ofthe carers to deal with the challenge when taking care of their elderly. Therefore, this study aims to identify the level of fall concern among carers of an older person and its relationship with carers' strain, depression, stress, anxiety, and social support. Five hundred ninety carers of an older person participated in this study. The data was collected through an online survey using a google link questionnaire. The study found that the carers had a high level of fall concern measured by the Malay version of the Carer Fall Concern Instrument (CFC-I M). A current study found that the CFC-I-M has excellent validity and reliability when used among Malay-speaking elderly caregivers in Malaysia, where the study was conducted. Furthermore, the level of fall concern was associated with the total assistance provided by carers in ADL, the history and frequency of fall in the elderly, carers' strain, and perceived level of social support. It was also found that there is a significant difference between carers' fall concern and history of falls of the elderly, number of falls, carers' strain, and perceived level of social support. Hence, our study found that carers' fall concern predictor was history of fall, carers' strain and perceived level of social support. Overall, it can be concluded that falling does not just afflict the elderly but also increase carers' fall concern. Levels of carers' fall concerns were linked with the history of fall in older person as well as levels of perceived support and strain when caregiving. The family is the most common in formal support system for the elderly. Indeed, family members were the first to be approached to assist with elder care. Hence, there is a dire need for a fall prevention and education program for carers. Lastly, engaging caregivers and discussing carers' concerns will help strengthen fall prevention strategies for home care recipients.