Modified Fall Risk Appraisal Matrix and Mental Health in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

OBJECTIVES: The fall risk appraisal (FRA) matrix provides multidimensional approaches to detecting falls in late adulthood. This study investigated a modified FRA (mFRA) matrix based on self-assessed fall risk (SFR) and fear of falling (FOF). We also compared the mental health and characteristics of the four mFRA groups: Rational (low SFR and low FOF), Irrational (low SFR and high FOF), Incongruent (high SFR and low FOF), and Congruent (high SFR and high FOF). METHODS: This study used data from 181 older adults (MeanAge = 74.58, SDAge = 7.13) in Central Florida. SFR was measured using the CDC Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries fall checklist. FOF was measured using the Short Fall Efficacy Scale-International. Descriptive and group comparison analyses were performed using SPSS. RESULTS: The participants were categorized: Rational (n = 80, 44.2%), Irrational (n = 12, 6.6%), Incongruent (n = 26, 14.4%), and Congruent (n = 63, 34.8%). Rational showed better mental health, fewer falls, and higher health literacy. In contrast, Congruent reported worse mental health, more falls, and lower health literacy. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provided empirical evidence to design fall prevention and interventions that consider older adults' experiential and psychological fall risks. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Fall risks of older adults may be measured and comprehended as a multidimensional concept.