Frailty

The risk of frailty can increase with age. However, frailty is not an inevitable consequence of getting older. Engaging in physical activities like strength and resistance training helps to maintain and even increase strength and function. A healthy diet with adequate protein is essential, protein needs increase with age especially for post-menopausal women to help prevent sarcopenia.

Physical frailty is often defined as having 3 or more of these 5 symptoms

• consistent low energy levels that lead to feelings of exhaustion

• taking little or no physical activity including a reduction in usual levels of activity

• a slow walking pace

• sarcopenia (age related muscle loss) including a low grip strength

• unintentional weight loss

Apart from obvious physical consequences, frailty often results in a loss of “physiological reserve” which means that an individual gradually loses their ability to cope with and recover from stressful events. NHS England describes frailty as a loss of resilience that means people don’t bounce back quickly after a physical or mental illness, an accident or other stressful event.