Self‐Care Experiences and Support Needs of Community‐Dwelling Older Adults With Multimorbidity: A Qualitative Study Informed by the Caring Life‐Course Theory

What problem did the study address? Community-dwelling older adults living with multimorbidity are expected to engage in self-care, yet little is known about how they experience, enact and sustain daily self-care, particularly when psychosocial and relational needs are inconsistently recognised within health and social care systems. What were the main findings? Self-care was characterised as an adaptive, experiential process shaped by life experience, informal support networks and system responsiveness. Participants frequently compensated for under-recognised psychosocial and relational needs through informal and online supports and resources. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? Findings can inform clinicians, service providers and policymakers in primary, community and aged care settings by identifying opportunities to strengthen coordinated, person-centred and relational self-care and self-management support for older people with multimorbidity.