Frailty Syndrome Symptoms
Frailty syndrome is a common condition in older adults, often marked by a gradual loss of strength, energy and resilience. It can make everyday activities feel more difficult and increase the risk of falls, illness and a slower recovery from injury.
The signs of frailty are not always easy to spot at first, as they tend to develop slowly over time. Recognising the symptoms early can help you or a loved one get the right support and stay safe, independent and comfortable at home for longer.
In this guide, we will explore the most common symptoms of frailty and what they may look like day to day.
What is frailty?
Frailty is a condition that affects many older adults as they age. It describes a gradual decline in strength, balance and overall resilience, making it harder to cope with everyday tasks or recover from illness or injury.
Someone who is frail may feel more tired than usual, lose weight without trying, or become less steady on their feet. Frailty is not just a natural part of ageing, it is a health condition that can be managed with the right support and care.
Symptoms of frailty
There are several possible symptoms a person could experience when dealing with frailty, including:
- Often feeling incredibly fatigued or exhausted
- Moving slowly or having difficulty getting around
- Muscle weakness or a reduction in strength
- Balance and stability troubles
- Incontinence
- Depression
- Social isolation by avoiding spending time with others or leaving the house
- Needing help with day-to-day activities, such as feeding, dressing or bathing
- Losing weight without trying
Recognising frailty syndromes
Sometimes, having frailty means showing symptoms that otherwise appear to be minor, but are actually masking a more serious or complex underlying medical issue. There are five main frailty syndromes that may significantly impact older adults’ well-being and independence:
- Falls: An older adult collapsing or finding that their legs ‘give way’ could be an indication of a more serious underlying condition. These can be caused by a mix of factors, including muscle weakness, balance problems and poor vision.
- Immobility: A sudden change in walking or feeling off-balance may leave a person stuck in bed or unable to get to the toilet. Immobility can lead to loss of muscle mass, pressure ulcers and further functional decline.
- Delirium: Delirium is a sudden change in cognitive function, such as feeling confused or muddled, and it can be a big indicator of dementia. It’s also triggered by surgery, illness or certain medications.
- Incontinence: New onset incontinence or worsening symptoms may be a symptom of dementia, Parkinson’s, diabetes or congestive heart failure. People dealing with incontinence may notice a decline in quality of life and sociability.
- Susceptibility to medication side effects: While most people can take mild medications without side effects, frail adults may exhibit them (e.g. confusion with codeine). Frail adults are particularly vulnerable due to changes in how their bodies process drugs.
For example, many people experience changes in mobility as they age. However, this could also be a sign of myocardial infarction, pneumonia, a stroke or spinal cord compression in frail adults. Similarly, a fall could indicate a serious underlying illness that causes dizziness or light headedness.
How is frailty assessed and diagnosed?
There are two major frailty models used to assess a person’s level of frailty: the frailty phenotype and the frailty index.
Frailty Phenotype
The frailty phenotype considers frailty as a specific syndrome where a person meets three or more of the following criteria:
- Decreased grip strength
- Extreme exhaustion or feeling like everything takes a huge effort
- Unintentional weight loss (more than 10 pounds in a year)
- A noticeable reduction in walking speed
- Low physical activity
The frailty phenotype believes that if you have three or more of these symptoms, you may have frailty. If you have one or two, you’d be classified as ‘pre-frail’. None of these symptoms would indicate that you’re non-frail presently, although that’s not to say that you couldn’t develop frailty in the future.
Frailty Index
The frailty index is much more in-depth and complex than the phenotype. It uses a detailed 70-item inventory of clinical deficits to determine a person’s frailty score, which can be completed during a comprehensive assessment with your doctor.
This method of diagnosis appears to be more sensitive than the phenotype, as it looks at more possible side effects and symptoms. It may be able to predict adverse health outcomes more accurately. However, this index doesn’t distinguish frailty from disability or disease.
How is frailty treated?
Frailty may be difficult to deal with, but how you move forward will determine its progression. Frailty can be managed and, in some cases, reversed by keeping yourself healthy and active. Leaning into the symptoms may make them worse.
To treat frailty, you can:
- Manage conditions associated with frailty: This lessens the stress and strain on your body, helping you recover and feel more active in the long run.
- Physical therapy: Increasing physical strength and endurance can improve balance and make you more confident in the future, so you feel less ‘frail’.
- Nutritional support: Getting enough vitamins and minerals can prevent weight-related issues that increase the risk of frailty.
- Specialised rehabilitation programs: Rehab problems may help you recover from serious illnesses or incidents that sparked frailty, such as cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation.
- Community support: Frailty might lead to spending more time at home and requiring more support. Many community support workers can provide this care without changing your routine or lifestyle.
- Long-term care: If frailty progresses to the point where living alone becomes too difficult, long-term care from a live-in carer can offer support with day-to-day living.
The benefits of a live-in carer when dealing with frailty
There are plenty of benefits for enlisting the help of a live-in carer when you or a loved one has frailty:
Help moving around the house
Frailty increases the risk of falls through reduced muscle strength and balance. A live-in carer will be able to offer support getting around the house without risking injury, giving you a confidence boost and preventing complete immobility.
Encouragement to lead a healthy lifestyle
Frailty can leave you feeling exhausted while completing simple activities, such as cooking. A carer offers support with cooking and meal planning to make sure you continue a nutritious diet that aids your health and well-being. They can also help you remain active through gentle exercises for frail elders.
Continuous monitoring
Risks of getting older can be daunting, especially when you live alone and worry about contacting a loved one should you need help. A live-in carer will be able to monitor your condition to make sure you get urgent medical attention or advice as soon as you need it. This offers peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.
Personalised, tailored care
Rather than being given generic advice and support from your GP, a live-in carer can tailor your care plan depending on the day and time. Through ongoing support and monitoring, they may be able to minimise the risk of hospitalisation.
Companionship and reduced social isolation
Frailty can be a huge knock to confidence, leading to some people staying at home and isolating themselves from their friends and family. A carer offers extra support in encouraging social outings and activities, as well as offering a listening ear whenever you need one.
How Country Cousins can help
At Country Cousins, we’re committed to offering our clients exceptional care and support round-the-clock, all from the comfort of their own homes. Whether you or a loved one has been diagnosed with frailty or is showing the beginnings of symptoms, we’ll match a friendly, compassionate carer to manage and hopefully ease its effects.
Our 24-hour live-in care services include:
- Assistance with showering, bathing, shaving and oral hygiene
- Cooking and meal planning
- Transportation to and from appointments
- Encouragement with hobbies and social activities
- Help moving around the house to prevent falls
- Companionship and emotional support
Our carers monitor symptoms to ensure your frailty doesn’t progress or put you in harm’s way. We’ll be on hand should you need assistance rather than waiting for help. We focus on maintaining independence and dignity throughout, avoiding the adverse stigma associated with frailty.
Talk to our team today
As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959 – all from the comfort of their own homes.
Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.
