Caregivers' experiences of caring for falls in nursing homes: a phenomenological study

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine in depth, through a phenomenological methodology, the subjective feelings, emotional reactions, and internal conflicts that caregivers experience while performing falls prevention and management. Design: Qualitative research with phenomenological methods. Methods: Between September and November 2024, one-on-one interviews were conducted with 12 caregivers in nursing homes whose elderly charges had experienced falls. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step process. A total of 152 significant statements were derived from the protocols collected from the study participants. These were organized into 27 themes by rechecking their relevance to the protocols, and the themes that could be integrated were organized into eight categories. Results: Caregivers were experiencing a range of emotional difficulties after a fall, including psychological strain, self-blame, fear, and shame, and were experiencing lasting trauma and low self-esteem after an accident. In addition, poor working conditions and ineffective fall prevention systems were cited as key issues, with staffing shortages and lack of systems contributing to falls. Caregivers emphasized the need for improved environments, increased staffing, customized training, and psychological healing programs. Conclusions: The results of the study show that experiencing someone fall is not just an occupational event but is deeply linked to psychological, social, and environmental factors.