Patient Information: Frailty Score.
General Practices are being asked to identify a measure of frailty on all our patients over the age of 65. This is done electronically within our clinical system looking at many factors in your clinical records.
Patients with a high frailty score will be reviewed by a clinician. This will allow the Practice to help set an individualised plan for actions to help keep patients healthy for longer.
If you see this measure on your clinical records it is nothing to be alarmed about and does not mean you have any new condition that you are not aware of.
"Frailty is a distinctive health state related to the ageing process in which multiple body systems gradually lose their in-built reserves. Around 10% of people aged over 65 years have frailty, rising to between a quarter and a half of those aged over 85 years.
Older people living with frailty are at risk of adverse outcomes such as dramatic changes in their physical and mental well-being after an apparently minor event which challenges their health, such as an infection or new medication". [British Geriatrics Society]
Useful resources
Below are some useful resources for patients when they attend for their review.
General advice
- Improving later life – Understanding the oldest old. This is a detailed booklet from Age UK looking at the latest research and highlighting expert advice on all aspects of ageing.
- Arranging for someone to make decisions on your behalf– information factsheet from Age UK
- Care and support planning guide– information for patients and carers from National Voices
General health advice
- Healthy living for older people (from Age UK)
Make your home safe
- Making your home dementia friendly– booklet from the Alzheimer’s Society
- Patient leaflet on falls prevention -from patient.info
Look after your feet
- Self care guide to looking after your feet- produced by Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber