Understanding frailty
Frailty is a health state related to the ageing process that refers to a person's mental and physical resilience or ability to bounce back and recover from events like illness and injury. It is a term that is often used incorrectly or misunderstood. Frailty is not an inevitable part of ageing.
Around 10% of people aged over 65 live with frailty. This figure rises to between 25% and a 50% for those aged over 85. Frailty isn’t the same as living with multiple long-term health conditions (multimorbidity). There’s often overlap, but equally someone living with frailty may have no other diagnosed health conditions.
Frailty is characterised by issues like reduced muscle strength and fatigue. If someone is living with frailty, it doesn’t mean they lack capacity or are incapable of living a full and independent life. When used properly, it actually describes someone's overall resilience and how this relates to their chance to recover quickly following health problems. What may be considered relatively minor problems, such as a urine infection or constipation, can have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of someone living with frailty.
The information in this website is to support and signpost you to resources that can help when you, or someone close to you, has been identified as frail.
People living with frailty do not recover from an illness, accident or other stressful event as quickly as they once did, putting them at risk of adverse outcomes.
Managed Clinical Network (MCN) Patient information
Information on the Managed Clinical Network (MCN), a coordinated network of people involved in long term condition care across Fife
Acute Frailty Unit Patient Information
NHS Fife has an Acute Frailty Unit in ward 43 at Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy. This is a short stay assessment unit where we provide immediate, expert care for older adults in a calm, supportive setting. Our goal is to check your health, keep you active and independent, and help you return home safely.
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