Table 2 Overview of the definition and perception of frailty for all participants

1

Immobility, diseases, dependence, in need for care

“Not at all! Absolutely not! [...] No, I am still fit. I still do all kinds of things for other people and for myself. No, I am not frail.”

2

Poor mental functioning, loneliness, dependence, not being able to stand up for yourself

“I feel frail on the street right now … I have to overcome my fear of falling.”

3

Forgetting things, communication problems, not being yourself, is a part of ageing

“I feel frail because I am often searching for things and I can’t figure it out by myself […] I am not very mobile anymore and I regularly need oxygen, that is frailty. But, well, that’s part of [getting older]”

4

Poor physical functioning, dementia, dependence on transport, being piteous

“No! No, absolutely not. They shouldn’t be feeling sorry for me. No, really not! That really makes me angry.”

5

Loneliness, falls

“I feel frail when I want to go for a walk but I can’t. I need someone who says, ‘Hey, I will pick you up’ […] At that point you are actually frail, because you are by yourself.”

6

Poor physical functioning, dependence on transport

“Frailty, I would find that terrible. I don’t think I’d just admit to that […] I don’t feel frail.” Partner: “He still drives a car, he still drives a scooter. We still do everything ourselves.”

7

In need for care

“I take showers by myself, I can still take care of myself completely, I don’t struggle with anything […] I am not frail.”

8

Not being able to do groceries, falls

“No, the GP also says, you are very flexible for your age […] I do have some health issues which is not good. That’s what’s holding me back. […] But no, I do not feel frail.”

9

Immobility, poor mental functioning, lack of resilience

“I still follow everything, the news. And I solve lots of puzzles. But I can’t go out and that’s difficult, you could call that a sort of frailty. […] When everything is decided by others, then I feel a bit left out […] Yes, you are more frail than a healthy, young person, but that only makes sense.”

10

(could not give a definition)

“No, not me, no […] I do not feel frail, no […] Yes, some days you do, of course.”

11

Immobility, communication problems due to dementia, lack of resilience

“Occasionally, yes. Because then I think, ‘Oh no, are they going to ask me that?’” Partner: “She can’t always participate in entire conversations, and if she wants to tell something, she can’t anymore. Then she loses the plot a bit […] She has a bit, a little bit, of dementia … and then she can’t remember sometimes.. a little Alzheimer’s.”

12

Falls, diseases, dementia, loneliness and not being yourself, is a part of ageing

“We are frail, of course. Our friends who all have died by now, that may also happen to us […] We think about our frailty, but I still drive my car and frailty is more important to my sons because they believe I shouldn’t drive anymore.”

13

Immobility, poor mental functioning, lack of resilience, in need for care

Partner: “Yes, physically of course. He is not walking well, and he is frail when walking on the street” Participant: “Well, yes and no. I am naturally stubborn […] and I have often had the feeling, in retrospect, I shouldn’t have done that, you are taking a risk.”