GoodFellow

Frailty

Date Published

Wednesday, 30 November 2022

Duration

28:19

Category

Older people's health

In this episode, Geriatrician Victoria Gibson discusses why it’s important to recognise frailty and address reversible factors.

Topics

intro
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formal definition of frailty
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Is there a tool to formally diagnose frailty?
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Should we be screening for frailty in primary care?
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What do we know about frailty as far as outcomes?
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What factors can be reversed?
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Is deprescribing in frail older adults?
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frailty trials
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Health burden with an ageing population
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take-home messages
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Take home messages

Frailty is not a normal part of ageing - it must be recognised as a condition, ideally as the mild or pre-frail stage for the greatest impact to be had.
In frail patients, even minor stressors can alter physical or mental status, or dependency dramatically, so it’s important to recognise the stressor and manage it appropriately.
Frailty tools are only as useful as the CGA performed alongside them.
Use every patient encounter as an opportunity to screen for frailty, and to deprescribe if appropriate.
Advocate locally and nationally for a healthcare system that aims to meet the needs of our frailer older patients, rather than viewing their needs as a burden.

Resources

The impact of frailty on prescribing medication with Dr Chris Cameron (2018)
HQSC care guides HQSC (2019)
STOPP START Toolkit HQSC (2016)

Patient Resources

Presenter

Victoria Gibson

Geriatrician

Victoria is a Geriatrician at Te Whatu Ora ‐ Te Matau a Māui Hawke's Bay.

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The Goodfellow Unit podcast is funded in part by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners.

www.rnzcgp.org.nz