Protecting Ourselves from Harm: Voices of Aging Farmers

Abstract

Senior farmers suffer the highest fatality risk of any age group in agriculture. The purpose of this exploratory study was to develop a "voice" for senior farmers by examining aging farmers' and their families' perspectives of farm work, associated injury risks, and methods to decrease those risks. Focus groups and personal interviews were used to collect data from 81 participants across seven U.S. states. The findings reflect the collective and verified voice of the study group. The Health Belief Model was applied and revealed differences between farmers and their family members; however, the need and desire to continue self-directed work was ubiquitous. Seniors reported external risks, while family members were more likely to name risks associated with the health of the senior farmer. Both groups cited stress as an injury risk. Posing risk to others was the trigger point for senior farmers to make behavior changes. Family members reported uneasiness in initiating safety conversations. Adaptation of existing interventions for self-assessment of risk was rejected. Use of the popular farm press and respected local resources were desired as avenues for safety education. Humor and stories were highly regarded. Interventions should be tailored for the target audience. These new insights into the risk perceptions of senior farmers and their families may result in more appropriate actions by health professionals, extension staff, social workers, vocational rehabilitation specialists, and others who work with farm populations.

Changing Health Practices Through Research to Practice Collaboration: The Farm Dinner Theater Experience

“…The FDT proved to be accessible, acceptable, applicable, affordable, and adaptable for the local communities (Penchansky & Thomas, 1981) to communities as it is easily delivered in a local and familiar place. It is acceptable to the farm community via the reality of the stories and messages, the relaxed atmosphere of the event, the use of local farmers as actors, and the applicability of the messages to their own lives (Reed & Claunch, 2015). The interactive approach resonated with participants and aided the effectiveness of the theater interventions (Cole, 2002;O'Connor et al, 2014;Knowles et al, 2015).…”

“…Agricultural work is learned primarily through oral and experiential learning, often starting in childhood. Injuries and chronic health conditions, such as arthritis and hearing loss, are considered by farm communities to be acceptable and expected (Cole, 2002; Colémont & Van den Broucke, 2006; Reed & Claunch, 2015). Indeed, senior farmers define health simply as the ability to work (Reed et al, 2012).…”

“…Part of the culture of agriculture is storytelling and information gathering in the local context (Cole, 2002; Jones & Siegrist, 1999). In a study of the work and safety culture of senior farmers, participants asserted that the usual forms of health and safety education were not acceptable; they wanted messages delivered in their voice, using stories and humor (Reed & Claunch, 2015). In response, an innovative strategy, FDT, was successfully piloted (Reed & Claunch, 2017), and then fully developed for implementation in the current study.…”