In the borderland of the body: How home‐dwelling older people experience frailty

Abstract

Rationale The increasing number of frail home‐dwelling older people has sharpened the focus on discovering and implementing suitable treatment and care in clinical practice, aiming to prevent loss of physical functioning and preserve their autonomy and well‐being. People's embodied experiences may yield rich descriptions to help to understand frailty. Thoroughly understanding older people's individual perceptions is especially relevant because the numbers of home‐dwelling older people are increasing, and people tend to develop more health problems and become frailer as they age. Their perspectives are important to develop knowledge and high‐quality care. Aim To explore the lived experiences of frail home‐dwelling older people. Methods We conducted a phenomenological study to obtain in‐depth descriptions of the phenomenon. We interviewed 10 home‐dwelling older adults (seven women and three men, 72–90 years old) in depth about their lived experience of frailty. We analysed the data using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach described by van Manen. Findings The lived experience of frailty is described in one essential theme: frailty as being in the borderland of the body, including three interrelated subthemes: (1) the body shuts down; (2) living on the edge; and (3) not giving up. Conclusions Our study gives insight into lived experiences with frailty among home‐dwelling older people related to their own body. Older people's experience of meaningful activities strengthened their feeling of being themselves, despite their frail and deteriorating body. Healthcare providers must consider the strategies of frail older people to consider both their vulnerabilities and self‐perceived strengths. The resources and deficits of frail older people present in the state of being frail need to be recognised.

“I Can’t Take Any Chances”: A Mixed Methods Study of Frailty, Isolation, Worry, and Loneliness Among Aging Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Skilbeck et al highlighted that moments of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty are common when “bodily changes made it difficult to negotiate daily living” or in a crisis ( Skilbeck et al, 2018 ). The experience of frailty, in addition to the expected physical and emotional challenges, was also characterized by some elements of hope, resilience, and adaptation (i.e., “not giving up” ( Søvde et al, 2021 ) or “keeping going” ( Skilbeck et al, 2018 ). Even during the ongoing crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, our findings are consistent.…”

“…The common threads of resilience and adaptation in this qualitative analysis and others ( Skilbeck et al, 2018 ; Søvde et al, 2021 ) can be situated within a larger discussion that identifies some limits to current conceptualizations of frailty ( Belloni & Cesari, 2019 ; Nicholson et al, 2017 ). Nicholson et al (2017 , p. 350) argue that as people age, “well-being is defined by what they can, as much as by what they cannot, do,” with current constructs of frailty mainly emphasizing the latter.…”

The Contribution of Frailty to Participation of Older Adults

“…A recent phenomenological qualitative study explored the life experience of 10 frail older adults [50]. The older adults expressed the importance of performing meaningful activities, despite the physical difficulties they experience.…”

Dignity in fragile older women receiving daily municipality care

“…They are struggling to find a way to live with the suffering in line with how their lives had been before. This period in life is, according to Egge Søvde et al, 22 a landmark as it is impossible to escape it and life is on the verge of taking a new turn. The results show that for women, the struggle to live the life they had before is a struggle for dignity, at the same time as vulnerability becomes apparent.…”