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This study aimed to synthesise current evidence about the experiences and needs of informal caregivers of community-dwelling frail older adults to inform targeted interventions for improving their caregiving situations.
This was a mixed methods systematic review using the convergent integrated analysis framework.
We conducted systematic searches across 11 databases, including CINAHL, CNKI, EMBASE, OpenGrey, ProQuest, PsycINFO, PubMed, SinoMed, VIP, WanFang and Web of Science, as well as reference lists, for studies published between January 1, 2000 and March 12, 2025. Quality appraisal was performed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Findings were synthesised using a narrative approach.
Of the 5297 citations, 2905 were screened for titles and abstracts, 176 were further screened for full-texts and eight studies were included (n = 6 quantitative, n = 2 qualitative; 1949 caregivers). The themes of caregiving experiences related to (1) influential factors contributing to negative, (2) or positive caregiver outcomes; (3) coping strategies or resources that caregivers employed to address caregiving situations; the outcomes that could be (4) negatively, (5) or positively impacted by caregiving; and (6) difficulties they encountered related to caring for frail older adults. Caregivers expressed needs for psychological support, detailed information on available resources, and family-centred and integrated public services with self-advocacy and coordinators.
This review highlights broad areas that require more attention for enhancing the well-being of these caregivers. More research is warranted on caregivers' experiences, needs, and interventions, especially their support needs. A theoretical framework, comparative analyses between child caregivers and spousal caregivers, as well as emphasising both mastery and competence, is recommended for future research and practice.
Our findings hold the potential to guide the development of needs-oriented and evidence-based interventions tailored to the unique challenges faced by caregivers, thereby supporting them in their caregiving roles.
This review followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
No patient or public contribution due to design.
In 2015, the term ‘intrinsic capacity’ (IC) was proposed by the World Health Organisation to promote healthy aging. However, the factors associated with IC are still discrepant and uncertain.
We aim to synthesise the factors connected with IC.
This scoping review followed the five-stage framework of Arksey and O'Malley and was reported using PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
In all, 29 articles were included. IC of older adults is associated with demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, disease conditions, behavioural factors, and biomarkers. Age, sex, marital status, occupation status, education, income/wealth, chronic diseases, hypertension, diabetes, disability, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and physical activity were emerged as important factors related to the IC of older adults.
This review shows that IC is related to multiple factors. Understanding these factors can provide the healthcare personnel with the theoretical basis for intervening and managing IC in older adults.
The influencing factors identified in the review help to guide older adults to maintain their own intrinsic capacity, thereby promoting their health and well-being. The modifiable factors also provide evidence for healthcare personnel to develop targeted intervention strategies to delay IC decline.
As this is a scoping review, no patient or public contributions are required.
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