Care partner engagement in fall risk management programs for community-dwelling older adults with cognitive impairment (CIA) is a critical aspect of supporting these individuals in participating in fall prevention initiatives. This engagement is particularly important given the higher fall risk and incidence associated with cognitive impairment, including mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Care partners play a vital role in enhancing program adherence by actively assisting in identifying fall risk factors and supporting behavior and lifestyle modifications to reduce fall risk. However, the concept of care partner engagement (CPE) in dementia and caregiving research is less explored and often framed broadly as a multidimensional and relational process. This paper aims to clarify and define CPE in the context of fall risk management programs for older adults with CIA, addressing the lack of clear conceptualization and operationalization in existing literature. The study proposes a novel framework comprising five key aspects of CPE: care partners' enrollment, attendance, active participation, completion, and maintenance of FRM practice. By defining and operationalizing CPE, this research aims to inform the development of effective approaches that integrate care partners into the delivery of fall risk management programs for this high-risk population.
