YOUR HEALTH with Dr . Thakkar
YOUR HEALTH with Dr . Thakkar
WHY DO WE WORRY ABOUT FRAILTY ?
Frailty generally comes with age and is considered to be when the body starts to lose its resilience . In addition , people will more than likely suffer from multiple health problems such as diabetes , heart and lung disorders , which also increase the frailty of patients . Frailty can be considered a long-term condition in its own right .
Around 10 % of people over the age of 65 will be frail and this increases to about half of those over the age of 85 . As such , we will all either be affected by or know someone who is frail . The impact of frailty in Buckinghamshire is huge and it ’ s essential we all start thinking about health and lifestyle to reduce its health burden .
Frailty can manifest in many ways , which can broadly be divided into physical , psychological and social . Physical symptoms include muscle wasting and reduced muscle function , weight loss , reduced mobility , fatigue , poor hearing , tremor and so on . Psychological issues include poor memory , increased risk of confusion , anxiety and depression . Without intervention , social dependence will increase .
Triggers that can cause frail patients to tip over into a state of not being able to cope typically include dehydration , short cold days and infections , such as flu , urine infections and pneumonia . This makes frail patients far more vulnerable to the elements and at higher risk of not eating , immobility , incontinence , falls , confusion and anxiety . Without identifying patients at risk , putting plans in place to reduce risk and rapid intervention when things go wrong , patients could end up becoming seriously ill , or worse .
The first step in frailty care is prevention . A good diet and exercise will go a long way to reducing your own risk of becoming frail . Vitamin D supplements from the pharmacy can also help keep muscles strong . The next step is to then ensure all people who are frail are identified so they can get early support . This can include signposting to home care , stopping medicines that can cause more harm than good , developing individual care plans to improve health and for what to do in a crisis , and plans to manage those in their last year of life .
So , what ’ s the message here ? If you , or someone you know think they may be frail and suffering from symptoms such as muscle weakness , falls , incontinence , memory issues or confusion , it ’ s important to think about your lifestyle , ensure other diseases such as diabetes are managed well , and speak to your doctor to make a care plan that suits your needs .
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Dr . Thakkar is a Buckinghamshire based GP
Chiltern Clinical Commissioning Group