Abstract
To ascertain how they cope with upper limb fractures and the implications for health and social services (H&SS) a cohort of elderly patients was followed up. 42 of the original 51 (82%) patients were interviewed almost one and a half years after sustaining their fracture. Information was collected on ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL), general health, and use of H&SS help from informal carers. Although there was an overall improvement in the ability to perform ADL, many (26%) patients reported a residual difficulty. Informal carers provided most of the support with some contribution from the statutory agencies. Demographic changes with increasing numbers of elderly and increasing employment of married women - the traditional carers, and epidemiological changes with increasing age-specific incidence of upper limb fractures mean that H&SS provision in the future will need to be increased.