Table 1 Summary of themes and sub-themes (Causes of fall concern)

‘I guess I am always worried. She is always careful. I guess I am a bit worried that she may trip over a shoe or a floor mat’ (C17)

Concern about care recipient’s risk of fall

Possibility of fall

Carers’ perception of fall and fall risk

‘If he does fall, like you say like causing more damage to himself…breaking bones…making them pain’ (C15)

Concern about the consequence of fall

Consequence of fall

‘Just a few bruises and scraped knees. There was nothing major, so we were fine’ (C14)

Little concern about minor injuries

Minor injuries

‘I don’t worry much now because in the house he is using the walker…I feel that he’s got more stability’ (C4)

Confidence in care recipients’ balance

Confidence in balance

‘If she wants to use it (the walker), she uses it. But I have told her if she had another fall, she will be going into care’ (C7)

Non-compliant to walking aid

Not listening to carers’ advice

Care recipients’ behaviour and attitude towards fall risk

‘The biggest challenge is getting through to both, they shouldn’t be lifting heavy weights’ (C9)

Continued with risky activities

Taking risks

‘So, if I say things too often to her… she gets cranky and says stop pushing her in doing things’ (C16)

Upset with repeated reminders

Upset with repeated reminders

‘My biggest concern is her not realising that she is getting older…She can’t do things like she used to be able to do’ (C7)

Unaware of fall risk

Unaware of fall risk

‘My husband has starting to get a bit slower in his actions and his memory…due to his Parkinson’s disease’ (C13)

Cognitive and functional decline

Cognitive and functional decline

Care recipients’ health and function

‘Because she has arthritis in her knees and when she turns quickly her knees didn’t sort of go with her and she fell’ (C20)

Impaired gait and poor balance

Impaired gait and poor balance

‘She is very good using her walker. Only that if she just gets up to answer the phone…a little quick, she might fall’ (C21)

Risk of falling when rushing to do things

Rushing to do things

‘But our house is very flat now. Used to have a 2-storey house but luckily, we sold it last year. So, it’s all flat’ (C19)

Risk of falling when using the stairs

Presence of stairs

Care recipients’ living environment

‘He likes to just go out the street to get out of the house, I can’t let him go on his own’ (C10)

Risk of falling when going out alone

Going out alone

‘I am only away for half an hour an hour, no problem. But any longer…we get a friend come in look after her’ (C19)

Risk of falling when alone at home

Alone at home

‘Knowing that there is a close neighbour, it is very helpful because I think there’s always another person around’ (C9)

Feel reassured with support from neighbours

Support from neighbours