Grant: Project Grant

A fragility fracture is one that happens after a slip, trip, or fall from standing height or less (for example, slipping on ice and breaking a wrist or hip). Over 131,000 Canadians have one of these fractures every year. Patients with more serious fractures need to be admitted to a rehabilitation hospital. About 30% of patients in Canadian rehabilitation hospitals are admitted because of a fracture. Having someone at home to care for these patients when they leave the rehabilitation hospital is critical to their recovery but little is known about people who care for these fracture patients. In this two year study, we will interview 60 caregivers of patients with fragility fractures and ask them about their experiences of being a caregiver. We will interview caregivers shortly after the patient is discharged from the rehabilitation hospital and then one year later. Specifically, we will ask caregivers about the role of the family in determining who becomes the primary caregiver, how they prepare for the patient being discharged, and what their daily experiences with caring for the individual are like, including taking them to appointments. We will identify caregivers through the hospital's inpatient database, through social workers assigned to the patient, and through flyers posted at the hospital. Our research will inform the development of programs to address the needs of caregivers. For example, we might design an education program where caregivers learn how to negotiate with their families about who takes on the role of looking after the patient. Such programs will help to improve the health and wellness of caregivers who save the Canadian health care system $66.5B annually. These programs will also indirectly benefit patients who will be able to live at home for as long as possible.