A Family Caregiver Perspective on Fragmented Continuity of Care for an Elderly Female Patient With Upper Limb Fracture

Older women have a higher risk of osteoporosis and fractures than men after menopause. This article presents a family caregiver’s first-person perspective on navigating the healthcare system while caring for an 85-year-old mother following a left upper limb fracture requiring cast immobilization. Older women with fractures require extended care at home, where family members take on responsibilities usually handled by health professionals. The perspective reflects on systemic gaps in post-discharge continuity of care, particularly the limited clinical involvement of primary healthcare services and the reliance on administrative referral-back processes. The experience highlights how family caregivers are compelled to manage symptom interpretation, functional decline, and emerging complications during home recovery—while also navigating gender-specific care needs—often without structured professional guidance. Family caregivers are uniquely positioned to identify fragmentation, safety risks, and unmet needs across care transitions. Recommendations include strengthening the clinical role of primary healthcare in post-discharge follow-up, improving communication and anticipatory guidance during recovery, and formally recognizing family caregivers as essential partners in caring for older women recovering at home. Integrating caregiver perspectives into post-discharge care planning may improve recovery experiences, reduce caregiver burden, and enhance continuity of care for elderly female patients.