A mirror image: experiences of informal carers caring for frail, older persons at risk from falling

The number of adults in the UK aged 65 years and older is set to increase by more than 40% over the next 20 years, with 45% of those over the age of 65 years living with mild to moderate frailty (British Medical Association (BMA), 2018). Globally, it is estimated that up to 35% of those aged 65 years and above fall each year, and falls are cited as the second leading cause of accidental deaths (World Health Organization (WHO), 2017). Falls in frail, older people often result in a fear of further falls, reduced mobility and a loss of independence, depression, social isolation and anxiety (Bjerk et al, 2017). Increasingly, informal carers are recognised as a crucial resource for supporting long-term, frailty care (NHS England, 2014b).

It is estimated that a quarter of those adults aged 45–64 years in the UK are informal carers, a role that affects their working lives, financial security and physical and mental health. Carers UK (2018) describes how some informal carers often feel socially isolated because of their care responsibilities, negatively affecting their emotional and psychological wellbeing. Broese Van Groenou and De Boer (2016) argued that informal carers spend significant amounts of time undertaking emotionally and physically demanding tasks. Informal carers caring for someone at risk from falling following a stroke have been found to experience a loss of self-confidence and a fear that the care recipient will have further falls (Kelley et al, 2010). The effects of caring for an older person who is frail and at risk from falling in their own home is limited. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the experiences of informal carers and how they fulfil the role of caring for an older person who is frail and at risk from falling in their own home.