Background - Falls are the leading cause of accidental death among people aged 65 and older. Fall prevention programs are effective, but few older adults participate in them. This article reviews the literature on factors that facilitate and factors that hinder participation in fall prevention programs. Methods - A literature review was conducted to identify English-, German-, and French-language documents published between 1990 and May 2012. The search was conducted in the Medline, PsychInfo, Psychological and Behavioral Sciences, and Francis databases, in the reference lists of identified articles, and in journals of public health, gerontology, and social sciences. Of the 462 documents identified, 19 were selected and analyzed. Results - Of the 19 selected articles, 12 were qualitative studies and 7 were literature reviews. Among the barriers to participation in fall prevention programs, the documents highlight the perception of falling as an inevitable event, the inappropriate timing of fall prevention interventions, and material constraints. Conversely, presentation of prevention programs by a professional or a loved one, highlighting the social benefits of interventions, and tailoring programs to the needs of participants are factors that facilitate older adults’ participation and adherence. Conclusion - This literature review identifies three major issues to consider for the sustainable and acceptable implementation of fall prevention programs: accessibility; the choice of referral source; and social representations of falling.[author’s abstract]