
9 Out of 10 Hip Fracture Patients Rely on Support from Family Members
A new study from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) reveals that, within three months of discharge, hip fracture patients receive significantly more assistance from family members than they do from municipal home care services over six months. The extent of this family support has surprised researchers
A hip fracture is a serious condition for older adults, dramatically altering daily life. Even small practical tasks at home can become impossible without support.
According to a study from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU),more than 90% of hip fracture patients rely on help from family members after being discharged. Remarkably, these patients receive more assistance from their relatives in three months than from municipal home care services over a six-month period.
The study shows substantial time commitment made by family members in supporting patients. From an economic perspective, time is a valuable resource, with measurable significance.
-When assessing use of resources in health care settings - such as hospital care, visits to general practitioners, medications, and other health care services - we often overlook the contribution by family members, says Eva Draborg, Associate Professor at the Department of Public Health, SDU. She continues:
-This study provides a rare glimpse into the ‘unpaid work’ undertaken by family members, measured not in monetary terms but in time - time that could have been spent on other activities, including paid work. Time is a valuable resource. As a result, the true costs of these rehabilitation processes are far greater than what is reflected in regional and municipal budgets.
The Surprising Extent of Family Support
-We were struck by how many patients rely on their family members for assistance after being discharged. This suggests that the task-shifting seen between hospitals and municipalities may also extend to family members, explains Jonas Ammundsen Ipsen, physiotherapist and PhD at the Department of Regional Health Research.
Meet the researcher
Jonas Ammundsen Ipsen, physiotherapist and PhD. This study was a key component of his recently completed PhD at the Department of Regional Health Research.
Meet the researcher
Eva Draborg, Associate Professor at the Danish Centre for Health Economics, part of the Department of Public Health at SDU.
Fact box: The Support Given
Family members contribute approximately 36 hours of assistance over a 12-week period, compared to the 25 hours of home care provided by municipalities over 26 weeks.
In healthcare, task-shifting refers to the transfer of responsibilities from one professional group to another - often to manage resource shortages or address gaps in specialist availability.
-While there is significant emphasis on ensuring collaboration and continuity between hospitals and municipalities, it may be worth exploring how to better integrate and support family members, who often provide care after discharge, Jonas Ammundsen Ipsen suggests.
In their study, Jonas Ammundsen Ipsen and his colleagues discovered that patients received more assistance from family members in three months than from municipal home care services over six months. Patients kept diaries to record the practical help they received from their relatives.
Supporting Family Caregivers
In Denmark, hospitals are responsible for patient care during the inpatient period following a hip fracture. After discharge, the responsibility shifts to municipalities, with efforts aimed at ensuring seamless collaboration between the two.
Despite the vital role family caregivers play, there is no formal support system in place to assist them in the role of unpaid caregivers.
While it is encouraging that family members step in to help, for some, the burden of caregiving becomes overwhelming, potentially impacting their health or quality of life, as previous studies have shown.
-We need to be more attuned to the risk of caregivers becoming overburdened, ensuring they receive adequate support and respite. It is unreasonable for family members to face exhaustion from taking on care responsibilities, Jonas Ammundsen Ipsen emphasises.
About the Project
- A total of 245 patients participated, all of whom were living independently in their own homes.
- Patients maintained diaries to record the practical assistance they received from family members.
- Over 12 weeks, family members provided approximately 36 hours of support, compared to the 25 hours of home care delivered by municipalities over a 26-week period.