Community-dwelling older adults' perspectives and experiences of living with multidimensional frailty and...

Background: Frailty and multimorbidity frequently coexist among older adults, amplifying risks of disability, hospitalization, social isolation, and reduced quality of life. In Indonesia, the prevalence of frailty among community-dwelling older adults is increasing, yet little is known about how cultural, social, and familial contexts shape the lived experiences of those facing both conditions.Purpose: This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Indonesian community-dwelling older adults with multidimensional frailty and multimorbidity.Method: A qualitative descriptive design with an interpretive orientation was employed on 20 older adults aged 60 years and above, identified as frail using the Clinical Frailty Scale (scores 4-7) and with at least one chronic illness. The participants were recruited from six Indonesian PHCs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from February to July 2022. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis through iterative steps of decontextualization, recontextualization, categorization, and theme development to capture shared and individual meanings.Results: Three main themes with nine subthemes emerged: (1) Lived realities of functional decline, reflecting physical, cognitive, emotional, and social deterioration; (2) Multimorbidity as a trigger for frailty, highlighting the cumulative impact of chronic illness and pain; and (3) Day-to-day adjustment to health problems, describing coping strategies related to nutrition, mobility, and daily functioning.Conclusions: Frailty among Indonesian older adults is multidimensional, with multimorbidity acting as a catalyst for its progression. Holistic, culturally sensitive, and community-based nursing interventions are essential to address physical, emotional, nutritional, and social dimensions of care, thereby supporting functional independence, adaptive coping, and improved quality of life in later years.