Lightning Learning: Clinical Frailty Scale
ATTENTION: the advice provided on this poster is currently under review and will be updated accordingly.
What?
Frailty affects:
~10% aged over 65 years
<50% aged over 85 years
Patients with long term conditions aren’t necessarily frail, however those patients can also have frailty. Frailty can be assessed by identification of deficits, as described by the Clinical Frailty Scale (Rockwood). While it is associated with the aging process, frailty can be a long term condition, so it can worsen and improve.
Why?
Identification of frailty helps to improve both long and short term health management for these patients. These patients require more in-depth comprehensive geriatric assessment where possible. Recognition of frailty is important in planning any intervention.
The scale ranges from 1 (very well) to 8 (very severely frail) and 9 (terminally ill, though not otherwise frail).
Further Reading
- Dalhousie University: Clinical Frailty Scale
- British Geriatrics Society: Fit for Frailty
