| | Discussion category | Comments by focus group participants |
| | Behavior change and positive outcomes | Benefits of the AMOB/VLL Course.
“I learned to walk more because I always not walking enough. Through this program I learned to walk 10 or 12 blocks every day.” (Program Participant)
“This type of program keeps you moving. Some people have asked me “oh you don’t have an aide?” and right way [sic] I say “I don’t need an aide.” Maybe I do, but as long as I can, I will do for myself.” (Program Participant)
“It [the class] always keeps them motivated with more activities. They like to be active. They always say they want to be in an activity where people feel important. If a person shows interest in a senior, that we care them…they are happier.” (MoFa)
“There was this lady at the center. Her composure was like, I don’t know [showed hand gesture indicating low energy]. [Moderator: “Without energy?”] Yes, without energy. She started to go to classes. [At that time] she used a cane. Afterwards, she stopped using it.” (MoFa)
Changes in Awareness of Falls Hazards.
“Through the program I also learned how to become more careful in the streets. Now I watch for cracks, I watch for the curves, how I sit down, uphill and downhill, I watch that. In the house, I took a carpet [away] in front of my sink, because I saw that was a disaster if I stumble on it and fall on my head. And then another thing, I started to do myself, I used to get up in the dark and walk around and do some things and now I turn the lights on first.” (Program Participant) | | Cultural sensitivity and lifestyle fit | Cultural Representativeness.
[Moderator asks: “In the video, you do think it was only representative of [white] Americans?” group says: “No”] “That was for everyone. Everyone that saw the videos, and saw how things are placed, that is not just for Latinos but for everyone.” (Program Participant)
Cultural Appropriateness.
“I would say, people from our country [the Dominican Republic], they like that you demonstrate love and affection. The seniors like it, well I would say all part of the world like this…I give them love, affection. Whatever senior comes to the center…or does not come to the center…That is something that I learned from my country. [Moderator: “Is that something you discussed in the training?”] Yes, because that is something that is very important…to give love to seniors.” (MoFa)
“Yes, the environment is not specific or [does not] address the issue of living in a very densely inhabited, urban situation.” (Master Trainer/Coach)
“For example, [one suggestion from the materials] is to make sure that there is light on when you go open the door [to the stairs]. The landlord does not fix that, there is no light there, it’s dark, so you know how could they check? They don’t have any control over the lighting or stairs. Some people are scared of the elevators so they take the stairs, some of the others don’t live in buildings that have elevators. They cannot control the environment.” (Master Trainer/Coach)
Timing of Classes.
“[If the aide has not shown up] then they won’t go to class. They say “no, because I will lose my home attendant” and that is a big excuse. They should vary the schedule. Maybe classes should start later at 10 a.m. so they have more time.” (MoFa 1)
“Yes, there are many people who say “Oh, I have not eaten anything. My home attendant she is the one who prepares breakfast.” (MoFa 2)
Domestic Abuse.
“I feel that the book never took into account that people were just going to fall because of an accident [due to] something that was not expected. I don’t think the study itself works with people that have been abused, who have additional psychological problems…The people [in the] original part of the study never brought [these issues] to the table because it was never part of their living experience, unlike most seniors who have huge negative experiences because of economic factors.” (Master Trainer/Coach) | | Curriculum format and literacy | [Moderator: “Was there anything that affected your learning? Was there anything that was confusing or not clear?”]
“Everything was clear.” (Spanish speaker participant, <6th grade education)
“Very clear.” (Spanish speaker participant, <6th grade education)
“In the class there were many times that happened [having written materials to use at home and refreshing their memories about certain exercises or concepts]. [Master Trainer/Coach A] and [Master Trainer/Coach B] they were doing the exercises and we would copy them. Also, there was a class where we were the instructors.” (Program Participant)
“I thought that they were all very easy, at the time when I went home I looked at the illustrations. I Wanted to sort of review and go to illustrations and try stuff out.” (Program Participant)”
“People would actually say… “Pero esa pregunta, es muy estranga, esa pregunta no la entriende nadie.” [The question I know…it is very strange, that question nobody understands it.]” (Master Trainer/Coach)
“It was an interesting dynamic how much effort was put in to making a plan [for the English group] compared to the other group [Spanish] who were like “this was a waster of my time, this was too much effort.” (Master Trainer/Coach) | | Curriculum topic suggestions | “I would like to see more balance in the class.” (Program Participant 1)
“[I would like more information about] techniques because I have a problem with balance, just like if I start this way and all of a sudden, I have to back up, I have to always think, “Don’t turn around so fast because you will lose your balance.” I would like to see more balance, how to focus more.” (Program Participant 2)
“There’s a lot of medical issues, things involved here and we are not prepared. There’s a lot of joint…and, even, I’m prepared to do the muscular…you know, the physical, the joint, all that conversation, but about medication I don’t…about mental disease, I don’t. I Know very little about insulin, and sugar deficit and all that…I don’t know anything. I Felt like I was not prepared to discuss that, as part of the fear of falling.” (Master Trainer/Coach 1)
“So a lot of our participants wanted to know what their medicines, how those medicines were impacting them, because a lot of them felt that also some of the stuff that they were taking for medicinal purposes, were affecting their balance. Whether it’s true or not true…there’s no way to address that.” (Master Trainer/Coach 2) |
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