Perspectives of Frailty among African American Men and Women

Introduction: Frailty is a syndrome of impaired homeostasis and poor response to stressors leading to adverse health outcomes. Aim: To explore lay perspectives about frailty among African American adults. Method: Descriptive, qualitative study using focus groups. Results: Thirteen men and women participated in two focus groups. Content analysis yielded six themes: 1) Physical impairment with loss of independence; 2) Can happen to anyone, at any age, at any time; 3) Mind-body connection; 4) Affects all aspects of life; 5) Positive attitude and prayer guard against frailty; 6) Be in tune and stay connected. Discussion: Psychological and social factors, including a positive attitude and spirituality, are linked to physical function and well-being in aging and are influential in frailty. Implications for Practice: Culturally tailored interventions that focus not only on promoting physical function but also address psychological, social and spiritual domains may foster the resilience needed to prevent or alleviate frailty in African Americans.