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Frailty Care Gap: Many Seniors Miss Crucial Follow-Ups
5 Dec
Summary
- Frailty assessments for older adults not back to pre-pandemic levels.
- Few diagnosed with severe frailty receive medication or falls assessments.
- Significant local variations in frailty assessment rates exist.
A recent National Audit Office (NAO) report indicates that a significant number of older adults experiencing frailty are not receiving essential follow-up care after diagnosis. Frailty assessments for individuals aged over 65 have yet to recover to their pre-pandemic figures, with general practitioners often falling short in delivering the required post-diagnosis support.
Of the substantial number of individuals diagnosed with severe frailty in the past year, a mere 16% underwent a medication review, and only 18% received a falls assessment. This highlights a considerable deficit in crucial health checks for a vulnerable population. The report also underscores a pronounced variation in care provision across different areas.
These findings reveal that assessment rates can fluctuate dramatically, ranging from as low as 10% in some locales to as high as 90% in others. Experts emphasize that frailty is not an inevitable part of aging and can be addressed, particularly in its early stages, through personalized care plans focusing on strength, balance, and individual needs.
