Living with frailty 

Frailty is a clinically recognised state of increased vulnerability, resulting from ageing associated with a decline in the body’s physical and psychological reserves. Frailty varies in its severity. We describe individuals as living with frailty.

When and how should frailty be recognised?

Any interaction between an older person and a health or social care professional should include an assessment which helps to identify if the individual has frailty.

Frailty syndromes

The presence of one or more of these syndromes requires frailty assessment:

• falls

• immobility

• delirium

• incontinence

• susceptibility to side effects of medication.

How should frailty be managed?

The gold standard for the management of frailty in older people is the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), a holistic, interdisciplinary assessment of an individual. The result of this review should be a personalised care and support plan (CSP) including an escalation plan about seeking further advice, an urgent care plan and, when appropriate, an end of life care plan.

Tools for assessing frailty can be found at: rcn.org.uk/clinical-topics/older-people/frailty