Frail older person.

Written By Peter Lipski

  • Frailty is NOT OLD AGE!!!!!

  • Old age does NOT cause frailty!!!!

  • Frailty in older persons is a serious medical syndrome characterised by-

  • Neurological impairment,

  • May have dementia,

  • Slowing of walking and impaired balance,

  • Osteoporosis,

  • Significant weight loss and loss of appetite,

  • Malnutrition with muscle weakness and wasting,

  • Paper thin skin from malnutrition with increased risk of bruising, skin tears and pressure areas,

  • Cardiac and chronic lung disease.

  • Only 30% of those older than 85 years of age are frail.

  • Frailty is therefore a common clinical syndrome in older adults which carries an increased risk of falls, injury, disability, hospital Emergency Department presentations and early death rate. 

  • These people have a decline in physiological reserve in the body, deteriorating function across multiple organ systems  and are unable to cope with acute stressors on their body, resulting in decompensation, infection, falls, delirium and an acute hospital presentation.

For more information read Dr Peter Lipski’s book “Your Elderly Parents Failing Health. Is It Ageing Or A Treatable Condition”.

Peter Lipski
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