Recognising and managing frailty in primary care (May 2017)

Summary

This issue of Effectiveness Matters has been produced by the Centres for Review and Dissemination in collaboration with the Yorkshire and Humber AHSN and the Improvement Academy and updates a previous issue published in January 2015.

Frailty is a distinct health state related to reduced function across multiple physiological systems that develops as part of the ageing process. Frailty means that even minor events can trigger disproportionate changes in health status after which the patient fails to recover to their previous level of health.

Content

What will I learn?

• Simple tests that have been recommended by NICE for frailty in primary care are gait speed, self-reported health status and the PRISMA 7 questionnaire.
• Exercise programmes, particularly high intensity interventions, may improve gait, balance and strength and have positive effects on fitness.
• Medication review forms part of the holistic medical review of people with frailty.
• Supported self-management can improve health outcomes. However, the value of case management is still to be proven.
• Discussion about end-of-life care is important to most older people, but is often neglected.