Perceptions and experiences of South Asian families living with frailty in England: a hermeneutic phenomenological study

ABSTRACT

Background and objective

Older adults of a South Asian heritage are predisposed to frailty, yet they remain less likely to access targeted frailty services for support with their health and wellbeing. Little is known about how older South Asian adults and family members perceive and experience frailty. The aim of this study was to examine South Asian families’ perspectives and experiences of frailty to inform health services and increase access for families living with frailty.

Research design

Hermeneutic phenomenological design.

Methods

Eight people living with frailty and eight family carers were purposefully selected from community settings in West Yorkshire, England. Data were collected in July 2021. Semi-structured interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed.

Results

Four themes were identified; a naturally degenerating mind and body, beliefs about frailty causality, impact of frailty, and adapting to living with frailty. Frailty is perceived as degeneration of the mind and body which occurs as a natural part of the ageing process. It is also associated with lifestyle, previous employment, and viewed as God ordained. Frailty profoundly impacts the lives of South Asian families by causing stigma, isolation and loneliness, and negative emotions. However, South Asian people believe it is possible to adapt to living with frailty through making adjustments and using religion as a coping strategy.

Discussion and implications

This study identifies a need for educational interventions for South Asian families which raise awareness around frailty to reduce stigma and enable access to appropriate frailty support and services. It is also imperative for health, social care and third sector providers to consider the individual meaning of frailty for this population in relation to their cultural and religious context and beliefs, to understand how this may impede decisions to seek frailty care and support, and their needs in relation to service provision.

KEYWORDS:

• Frailty
• South Asian people
• ageing
• illness perceptions
• support services
• United Kingdom

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all participants for taking part in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics statement

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by an Institutional Review Board/Ethics Committee. See details under Methods.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the National Institute for Health Research, Yorkshire and Humber Applied Research Collaborations NIHR200166. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research or the Department of Health and Social Care.