Caring for Elderly Parents with Frailty

Frailty is a progressive condition which can affect older adults, characterised by a decrease in physical strength and energy.

If your loved one is living with moderate or severe frailty, they are more likely to depend on you for help and need more support at home. Frailty can lead to a heightened vulnerability to other, sometimes minor, health or personal issues, such as a urine infection, an accident, a hospital admission, or another stressful event. Those affected by frailty are less able to bounce back from relatively small triggers or setbacks, and are more likely to become dependent on others for care and support. Recognising and understanding frailty can help you understand, plan, and provide appropriate care and support for your parent, friend, or family member living with frailty.

Adults living with moderate to severe frailty are more likely to need help with everyday activities and medical management, including health care appointments, medicines, and banking. They are also more likely to develop anxiety or depression, or experience a fall or an unplanned admission to hospital Below are some tips to help when caring for a loved one with frailty.

Disclaimer: These guides are not a substitute for medical advice – always seek professional help. Remember, healthcare professionals will not share information about a patient unless they have been permitted to do so.

How This Information Can Help You

Understanding Frailty

Gain insights into what frailty is, how it affects older adults and its common symptoms.

Identifying and Assessing Frailty

Learn about the key factors that may indicate frailty, including age, living situation, and certain health conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Address some of the common complications of frail such as falls, incontinence, delirium and multimorbidity

Managing Day-to-Day Challenges

Learn how to adapt care to the varying levels of frailty for daily care such as helping with medication and other daily tasks

Understanding Frailty

Wooden Jenga blocks with a middle aged woman taking out a piece

Frailty in older adults - a guide to care

Older gentlemen sitting on the couch with his broken foot up, with a pair of crutches next to him

Tackling Falls and Fractures in Older Adults

Frailty Frequently Asked Questions

Explore essential care tips and commonly asked questions about caring for a loved one with Frailty.

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Adults with frailty often need help with day-to-day tasks, often referred to as ‘instrumental activities of daily living’. These can include:

Household Tasks: Struggles with cleaning, laundry, and general home upkeep.
Managing Healthcare and Medicines: Challenges in taking the correct medicine and dose at the right time.
Personal Care: Difficulty bathing, dressing, eating, and getting out of bed.
Financial Management: Problems handling finances and paperwork.
Shopping/Meal Prep: Issues with food shopping and preparing meals.
Transportation: Challenges driving safely or being able to use public transport or taxis.

Experts are still getting to grips with diagnosing and managing frailty. Current treatments focus on reducing its risks and minimising its impact. This may include managing and preventing falls, and addressing mobility problems, incontinence, and cognitive issues. Lifestyle interventions might also be appropriate eg a nutrient dense diet, increasing physical activity, and avoiding loneliness and isolation.. Regular medication reviews are crucial to prevent additional risks from polypharmacy. A multidisciplinary approach involving healthcare professionals like social workers, geriatricians, psychiatrists, and physiotherapists is often helpful. If you are unsure of the help your loved one needs, contact their GP for surgery.

Yes, exercise can be helpful for those with frailty. Tailored, low-intensity exercises can help improve strength, balance, and mobility. Walking, gentle stretching, and supervised physical therapy are often recommended. However, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional before starting any exercise program to ensure it’s safe and tailored towards your loved one’s condition.

Signs that frailty is worsening include suffering falls more often, frequent hospital visits, significant weight loss, daytime sleepiness and more difficulty with daily tasks. These signs can also indicate other underlying health problems that might need treatment. So, if you’re noticing any of these signs, it’s essential to consult with your loved one’s GP to reassess their care plan. They may recommend adjustments in treatment, care strategies, or a reevaluation of their living environment to ensure it is safe and provides adequate support.

There are five indicators of frailty. Any single one can suggest that the person affected might have frailty although none are diagnostic. They can be used to help identify frailty, particularly in older adults who are experiencing:

Falls (e.g. collapse, legs gave way, ‘found lying on floor’).
Immobility (e.g. sudden change in mobility, ‘gone off legs’ ‘stuck in bathroom’).
Delirium (e.g. acute confusion, ’muddledness’, sudden worsening of confusion in someone with previous dementia or known memory loss).
Incontinence (e.g. change in continence – new onset or worsening of urine or faecal incontinence).
Susceptibility to side effects of medication (e.g. confusion with codeine, low blood pressure with antidepressants).

If your loved one is experiencing these symptoms please ensure they seek urgent medical advice.

Managing Day-to-Day Challenges

Managing the daily challenges of frailty involves adapting care to your loved one’s needs, ranging from minimal assistance to full support for basic daily activities. This includes helping with daily household chores such as housework, laundry, medication management, and meal preparation. For those with more severe frailty, assistance with basic tasks like bathing, eating, and dressing becomes crucial. Ensuring a safe and supportive living environment is key to maintaining their independence and dignity.

Supporting your loved one with frailty

Frailty is a progressive condition which can affect older adults, characterised by a decrease in physical strength and energy.

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How This Information Can Help You

Understanding Frailty

Identifying and Assessing Frailty

Frequently Asked Questions

Managing Day-to-Day Challenges

Understanding Frailty

Frailty in older adults - a guide to care

Tackling Falls and Fractures in Older Adults

Frailty Frequently Asked Questions

Managing Day-to-Day Challenges

Supporting your loved one with frailty

Frailty is a progressive condition which can affect older adults, characterised by a decrease in physical strength and energy.

Join the Carents Lounge

How This Information Can Help You

Understanding Frailty

Identifying and Assessing Frailty

Frequently Asked Questions

Managing Day-to-Day Challenges

Understanding Frailty

Frailty in older adults - a guide to care

Tackling Falls and Fractures in Older Adults

Frailty Frequently Asked Questions

What day-to-day challenges do adults with frailty face?

Are there any treatments available for frailty?

Can exercise help someone with frailty?

What are the signs of frailty worsening, and how should I respond?

What are the 5 frailty indicators?

Managing Day-to-Day Challenges