Frailty and Sarcopenia

Abstract

AbstractAgeing, frailty, sarcopenia, falls, and fragility fractures are strongly linked and are predictors of reduction in physical function, hospitalisation, and negative outcomes for older people following fragility fracture including worsening health, admission to long-term care, and premature death. Frailty is a syndrome which has recently been drawn to the attention of other health professionals besides geriatricians/physicians such as nurses and physiotherapists in fragility fracture care settings. Recognising its elements and effects and intervening appropriately have the potential to significantly improve fragility fracture care and outcomes, especially if the whole multidisciplinary team are involved.All older people who have fallen and/or sustained an injury/fracture should receive an assessment for the existence of frailty and sarcopenia and an interdisciplinary plan of interventions devised to prevent, slow, or reverse frailty. This chapter aims to outline the role of health professionals in (a) identifying frailty and sarcopenia and (b) preventing decline and improving health in older people with fragility fractures who live with frailty. It will review the concepts of frailty and sarcopenia and their assessment. It will also outline the interventions that can be implemented by nurses and other healthcare professionals which have the potential to positively affect health and functional status and may promote independent functioning of older people with frailty, sarcopenia, and fragility fractures.