Frailty in Older Adults - Early Identification and Management

Effective Date: October 25th, 2017

Recommendations and Topics

• Scope
• Key Recommendations
• Definition
• Risk Factors
• Epidemiology
• Identification of Patients with Frailty or Vulnerable to Frailty​
  • Signs and Symptoms
  • Frailty Scoring Tools
• Comprehensive Assessment of Patients with Frailty
  • ​Areas of Assessment​
  • Grading Severity of Frailty
• Management
  • Approach to Care Plan Development
• Medication Review
• Advance Care Planning
• Indications for Referral
  • ​Home and Community Care
  • Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment
  • Palliative Care
• Resources
  • References
  • Appendices
  • Associated Documents

Scope

This guideline addresses the early identification and management of older adults with frailty or vulnerable to frailty. The guideline facilitates individualized assessment and provides a framework and tools to promote patient-centred strategies to manage frailty and prevent further functional decline. The primary focus of the guideline is the community-based primary care setting, although the tools and strategies included may be useful in other care contexts.[A]

Key Recommendations

• See Appendix A: Frailty Assessment and Management Pathway.
• Early identification and management of patients with frailty or vulnerable to frailty provides an opportunity to suggest appropriate preventive and rehabilitative actions (e.g. exercise program, review of diet and nutrition, medication review) to be taken to slow, prevent, or even reverse decline associated with frailty.
• Use a diligent case finding approach to identify patients with frailty, particularly among older adults who regularly or increasingly require health and social services. However, routine frailty screening of the general population of older adults is not recommended.
• Many patients with frailty can be assessed and managed in the primary care setting through a network of support, which may include family, caregivers, and community care providers. Coordinate care with other care providers and ensure patients and caregivers are referred to or connected with local health care and social services.
• For patients with frailty who have multiple health concerns, consider using “rolling” assessments over multiple visits, targeting at least one area of concern at each visit.
• Polypharmacy is common in patients with frailty. Consider the benefits and harms of medications by conducting a medication review in all patients with frailty.
• Develop a care plan using the areas of geriatric assessment outlined in Appendix B: Sample Care Plan Template as a guide. Share the care plan with the patient and/or family/caregivers/representatives, and with other key care providers.
• Initiate advance care planning discussions for patients with frailty or vulnerable to frailty.

Definition

Frailty is broadly seen as a state of increased vulnerability and functional impairment caused by cumulative declines across multiple systems.^1–4 Frailty has multiple causes and contributors⁵ and may be physical, psychological, social, or a combination of these. Frailty may include loss of muscle mass and strength, reduced energy and exercise tolerance, cognitive impairment, and decreased physiological reserve, leading to poor health outcomes and a reduced ability to recover from acute stress.⁶ Overall, frailty exists on a spectrum.⁷  While frailty is often chronic and progressive, it is also dynamic and some patients may be able to improve their frail status.⁸

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Risk Factors

Figure 1: Vulnerability of frail older adults to external stressors

Managing well: A fit older adult who, following a minor stressor, experiences a minor deterioration in function and then returns to homeostasis.

Frailty: A frail older adult who, following a similar stressor, experiences more significant deterioration and does not return to baseline homeostasis. With more severe frailty, this may lead to functional dependency or death.

Adapted from Clegg A, Young J, Iliffe S, Rikkert MO, Rockwood K. Frailty in elderly people. The Lancet. 2013 Mar;381(9868):752-62 & Lang P-O, Michel J-P, Zekry D. Frailty Syndrome: A Transitional State in a Dynamic Process. Gerontology. 2009;55(5):539-49.

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Epidemiology

While many adults living in BC remain robust and active as they age, some older adults develop frailty or are vulnerable to frailty. In 2009/10, an estimated 20.4% of British Columbians aged ≥ 65 years living in the community (128,000 people) were frail.⁴ The prevalence of frailty increases with advanced age (from 16% at ages 65 to 74, to 52% at age 85 and older) and more often affects women than men.⁴ However, frailty may also be prevalent in younger adults.¹¹ The number of frail older adults in BC will continue to climb as the population ages. Frailty is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes and higher utilization of health care services.^4,12 A recent meta-analysis found that frailty was associated with increased risk for several negative health outcomes, which are listed in Figure 2.¹³

Figure 2: Increased risk of negative outcomes associated with frailty¹³

Early identification of patients with frailty or vulnerable to frailty provides an opportunity to suggest appropriate preventive and rehabilitative actions (e.g. exercise program, review of diet and nutrition, medication review) to be taken to slow, prevent, or even reverse decline associated with frailty.⁸ Although women are generally at higher risk of frailty, they have a better chance of frailty improvement and lower mortality than men.⁸

Identification of Patients with Frailty or Vulnerable to Frailty

Routine frailty screening of the general population of older adults is not recommended.⁷ Instead, use a case finding approach to identify patients with frailty, particularly in older adults who regularly or increasingly require health and social services (e.g. emergency room visits, ambulance crew attendance, adult day clinics, hospitalization, home support, referral to residential care).⁷ Encounters with health and social care professionals present an opportunity to identify older adults with frailty or vulnerable to frailty and take steps to reduce or manage associated risks.^7,14–18

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Signs and Symptoms

Use a diligent case finding approach to identify warning signs of frailty. Older adults may have a number of non-specific concerns that may suggest frailty or vulnerability to frailty. In addition to the review of chronic conditions, some other areas to assess are noted in Table 1 below. Observed changes or concerns expressed in these areas may be early warning signs of frailty, while a combination of impairments may signal progression towards frailty.There are certain signs and symptoms (e.g. falls, delirium, immobility) that may raise a higher level of suspicion that the patient has frailty⁷ – see Table 1. However, these problems may have causes other than frailty, so it is important to conduct a further review.  

Table 1: Possible warning signs of frailty^1,7,15,19,20

Signs indicated with bold * may raise a higher level of suspicion of frailty.

Medical: unintentional weight loss* (esp. if ≥ 10lbs/4.5kg over past year) incontinence* loss of appetite loss of muscle/strength (sarcopenia) osteoporosis impaired vision/hearing chronic pain repeated ER visits/hospitalization       Psychological: delirium* cognitive impairment/dementia* depression irrational fears/concerns inappropriate behaviour irregular sleep patterns

Functional: declining functional status* immobility* recent fall(s)*, fear of falling impaired balance fatigue or loss of energy reduced physical activity/endurance    Medications and alcohol: susceptibility to medication side effects* polypharmacy related issues increased alcohol consumption    Social and environmental: social isolation transition in living circumstances change in family/caregiver support caregiver stress

Frailty Scoring Tools

Patients with more severe frailty or certain geriatric syndromes may be easily identified. However, identifying mild or early stage frailty may require a formal assessment – consider confirming clinical suspicion of frailty with a scoring tool.

Dozens of different frailty measures have been developed over the years, but there is no single measure that is viewed as the gold standard²¹ and many are not well adapted for the busy primary care setting.²² The tools in Table 2 are recommended for community-based primary care.²³

Table 2: Recommended frailty scoring tools for community-based primary care

	Tool	Frailty suggested by:	These tests, including scoring information, are available in the Associated Documents section below.
General	PRISMA-7 Questionnaire	Score ≥ 37
Mobility	Gait Speed Test	Time > 5 seconds over 4m7
	Timed Up and Go Test (TUG)	Time > 10 seconds7
Cognitive Impairment	Standardized Mini Mental State Exam (SMMSE)	See Guidelines.ca: Cognitive Impairment - Recognition, Diagnosis and Management in Primary Care
	Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
	Other tests, as appropriate

Any one of the above tools may suggest frailty. Cognition and mobility tests are best done in the outpatient setting when patients are at their clinical baseline.

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Comprehensive Assessment of Patients with Frailty

Patients with identified frailty require additional assessment to support the development or refinement of a care plan. The gold standard for assessing and managing frailty in older adults is comprehensive geriatric assessment:⁷ an interdisciplinary process that evaluates medical, psychological, social and functional domains of older adults with frailty to develop a detailed care plan for treatment, support and follow-up.²⁴ However, comprehensive geriatric assessment by medical specialists in geriatric care is resource intensive – see Indications for Referral below.

Many patients with frailty can be assessed and managed in the primary care setting through a network of support, which may include family, caregivers, and community care providers. Ensure patients and caregivers are referred to or connected with local health care and social services, such as those available to eligible patients through Home and Community Care within local health authorities.

Areas of Assessment

There are number of common problems associated with frailty such as falls, weight loss, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, cognitive impairment and polypharmacy—many of which may be reversible or preventable—that should be addressed to improve outcomes.

Conduct a review of the medical, functional, psychological and social/environmental needs of the patient.⁷ The areas of geriatric assessment outlined in Table 3 in the Management section below and the Appendix B: Sample Care Plan Template may help guide assessment.

For patients with frailty who have multiple health concerns, consider using “rolling” assessments over multiple visits, targeting at least one area of concern at each visit.²⁵

Family physicians may be eligible for Complex Care incentive fees, which offer additional compensation to family physicians for the management of patients with complex conditions, including moderate or severe frailty, or for Chronic Disease Management incentive fees. See the Resources section below and www.gpscbc.ca: Billing Guides.

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Grading Severity of Frailty

Once a patient is identified as frail or vulnerable to frailty, it is recommended that the Clinical Frailty Scale be used to categorize the needs of the patient. The Clinical Frailty Scale is a validated tool that uses clinical information to stratify patients with frailty based on their level of vulnerability. The Clinical Frailty Scale is a strong predictor of institutionalization and mortality²   and is useful for consistently communicating frailty status between care providers.​

Figure 3: Clinical Frailty Scale²

A PDF of Figure 3 is available at https://www.dal.ca/sites/gmr/our-tools/clinical-frailty-scale.html. See also the PATH Frailty App based on the Frailty Assessment for Care Planning Tool (FACT) - https://pathclinic.ca/app/.

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Management

Use the areas of geriatric assessment outlined in Table 3 below and in Appendix B: Sample Care Plan Template as a guide in developing a care plan.

The care plan is intended to be developed over a series of planned office visits with one or more areas of concern addressed at each appointment.

Review and document goals and strategies to address each area of concern. Consider relevant evidence available regarding

• important outcomes;
• patient trajectory and prognosis;
• interactions within/among treatments and conditions; and
• benefits and harms of care plan components.²⁶

When possible, work with other care providers as an interdisciplinary team and establish clear roles and duties. Physicians may be eligible for Patient Conferencing fees for case conferencing with other health care providers – see www.gpscbc.ca: Patient Conferencing Fee Initiative.

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Approach to Care Plan Development

1) Inquire about the patient’s primary concerns

Also consider the concerns of family, caregivers and representatives, as appropriate.²⁶

2) Review patient goals of care, values and preferences²⁶

The care plan should be developed jointly with the patient and/or the patient representative, as appropriate, to establish a shared understanding of desired care.¹⁴

The care plan should address:

• individualized goals associated with significant health and safety risks;²⁷
• plans to manage significant comorbidities in relation to patient goals;²⁸
• appropriate prevention activities for the patient;²⁹ and
• self-management support for the patient and family/caregiver(s).

Identify patients who would benefit from palliative care early in the illness trajectory: a palliative approach addresses the need for pain and symptom management, as well as psychosocial and spiritual support.

3) Review history, current medical conditions, and interventions

Frailty can mask or mimic other illness, so it is essential to determine whether the limitation the patient is experiencing results from frailty or a comorbid condition.

• Review signs and symptoms and conduct investigations for differential diagnoses, as appropriate.
• Review weight, diet and food intake, and level of physical activity.

Consider patient adherence and comfort with past/current treatment plans.²⁶ Note that treatment guidelines and prescribing recommendations developed for more robust adults are often inappropriate for older adults with frailty.

4) Consider conducting a medication review

Polypharmacy is common in patients with frailty. Consider the benefits and harms of medications by conducting a medication review in patients with frailty– see Appendix C: Medication Review and the Medication Review section below. Medication reviews can decrease the number of drug-related problems and adverse drug reactions.^30,31 The process helps prioritize the patient’s goals of care, eliminate unnecessary drugs, add needed drugs, and review monitoring requirements.

5) Initiate advance care planning discussions – see the Advance Care Planning section.

6) Communicate the care plan

Communication for coordination and continuity of care is particularly important for older adults with frailty.²⁸ The care plan should include the names and contact information of key care providers (e.g. community support team, case manager, specialists, allied health professionals) and should be shared with key care providers. Give a copy of the care plan to the patient and/or family/caregivers/representatives to carry as they become involved with other health care providers and as they transition across care settings.

7) Reassess the care plan at selected intervals

Identify an appropriate time frame to re-evaluate the care plan. Consider benefit, feasibility, adherence, and alignment with patient goals, values and preferences.²⁶

Provide the patient or caregiver with a copy of the Associated Document: Resource Guide for Older Adults and Caregivers.

Table 3: Areas of geriatric assessment^24,32

This table is offered as a guide for areas of assessment to consider.

AREAS OF ASSESSMENT			RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESOURCES
Medical Review
Immunizations			Td vaccine booster recommended every 10 years. Tdap (pertussis) booster vaccine recommended for adults who were immunized in childhood. See the BC Immunization Manual and Schedules, including info on pneumococcal vaccines (PPV23 and PCV13): www.bccdc.ca: Immunization
Annual influenza	Td (or Tdap) booster
Pneumococcal	Herpes zoster
Habits			Consider referral to smoking cessation program and www.quitnow.ca. See BCGuidelines.ca: Problem Drinking.
Smoking	Alcohol use
Sexual function	Substance use
Nutrition			Direct patient to dietitian services offered through HealthLinkBC.ca or 8-1-1. Consider referral for a swallowing assessment or dietitian consult. Consider nutrition supplement or vitamin D supplement. A protein intake of between 1.2 and 1.5 g/kg/day is recommended.33
Diet/appetite	Dentition
Weight loss	Obesity
Swallowing
Bowel and Bladder			Review medications that may contribute to bowel or bladder problems (e.g. calcuium, narcotics, CCBs, TCA, etc.), or add a bowel protocol. Consider referral to a Nurse Continence Advisor, where available.
Bladder or bowel incontinence
Constipation	Diarrhea
Perception and Communication			Consider referral to an optomotrist, opthalmologist, audiologist, or speech language pathologist.
Vision	Speech
Hearing
Pain			See www.gpscbc.ca: Pain Management Tools and Resources.
Psychological Review
Cognition			See BCGuidelines.ca: Cognitive Impairment. Consider using cognitive assessment tools: see Associated Documents: Standardized Mini Mental State Exam and Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Consider psychiatry referral for patients with complex coexisting psychiatric problems, including challenging behaviour in dementia.7
Memory	Executive function
Delirium	Behavioural issues
Capacity assessment
Mood			See BCGuidelines.ca: Major Depressive Disorder in Adults - Diagnosis and Management and Primary Care Management of Sleep Complaints in Adults.
Depression	Irrational fears
Anxiety	Sleep problems
Functional Review
Mobility			Consider use of mobility assessment tools: see Associated Documents: Gait Speed Test and Timed Up and Go Test. Consider referral to physical therapist.
Gait and speed	Balance
Mobility aids	Foot care/footwear
Fall Risk			Direct patient to FindingBalanceBC.ca, including SAIL Home Activity Program. Consider a medical review for factors that increase fall risk. Consider arranging for an alert device or recommending using a hip protector. See gov.bc.ca: Fall Prevention Guidelines and Drugs and the Risk of Falling and www.gpscbc.ca: Fall Prevention Resources.
Fall history	Fall prevention
Osteoporosis	Drugs that increase fall risk
Physical Activity			Assess patient fitness for physical activity (fall risk, cardiac risk, etc.). Consider referral to a community exercise program. A program that includes balance, strength, flexibility and endurance training is recommended. Direct patient to physical activity services offered by HealthLinkBC.ca or 8-1-1. Consider referral to physical therapist or occupational therapist.
Activity level	Exercise program
Fatigue and energy level	Endurance and strength
Basic Activities of Daily Living			Consider referral for occupational therapy, home care support, social work, etc.: available through Home and Community Care at local health authorities.
Bathing	Transfers
Dressing	Feeding
Toileting
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living			Consider referral for occupational therapy, home care support, social work, etc.: available through Home and Community Care at local health authorities. Consider a driving fitness assessment – see gov.bc.ca: Driver Medical Fitness Information for Medical Professionals.
Cooking	Medications
Cleaning	Banking
Shopping	Driving
Social and Environmental Review
Social and Spiritual Needs			Consider recommending patient/family approach community spiritual leaders and organizations. Consider referral to Spiritual Care services offered by local health authorities, where available.
Hobbies/interests		Social activities
Isolation/loneliness		Spiritual needs
Care Support			Consider directing caregivers to www.FamilyCaregiversBC.ca and the BC Family Caregiver Support Line at 1-877-520-3267. Consider referral to home care support, caregiver respite, adult day services, social work, etc.: available through Home and Community Care at local health authorities.
Informal support from family/friends		Caregiver stress
Access to local resources/services		Eligibility for formal support
Managing at Home			Consider directing patient to access help at home through BetteratHome.ca.  Consider referral for home care, medical equipment and supplies, social work, etc.: available through Home and Community Care at local health authorities. Consider directing to SeniorsFirstBC.ca if elder abuse is suspected.
Home comfort and safety		Elder abuse
Medical equipment / supplies at home		Financial or legal concerns

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Medication Review

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Advance Care Planning

Advance care planning involves conversations with the patient about their values and goals related to health care and the quality of they may be able to achieve with treatment alternatives. Advance care planning should be tailored to the needs of the patient along the disease trajectory. Advance care planning conversations should be documented in the care plan and include the identification of substitute decision makers.

• See the Associated Document: Advance Care Planning Resource Guide for Patients and Caregivers or the Ministry of Health’s advance care planning guide My Voice – Expressing My Wishes for Future Health Care Treatment, available at www.gov.bc.ca/advancecare.

Depending on the patient’s values and goals, health care providers should consider the need for the following documentation:

• No Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (No CPR) form: Order that no CPR be provided by health care providers and first responders. For more information or to access the No CPR form, see HealthLinkBC.ca: No CPR Form.
• Medical Order for Scope of Treatment (MOST): A patient’s code status and scope of treatment can also be recorded in a MOST form. MOST forms are specific to each health authority and health care providers should refer to the policy and protocols of their health authority governing their use. Contact your local health authority for more information, or see HealthlinkBC.ca: Advance Care Planning.

Indications for Referral

Home and Community Care

Primary care practitioners play an essential role in identifying patients in need of increased supports and facilitating intake into the system of care support. Ensure patients and caregivers in need of support are referred to local health care and social services, which are available from both publicly subsidized and private pay providers.

• For help finding information on social and health resources in your local community, see BC211 at www.bc211.ca, or where available, see Fetch (For Everything That's Community Health) at https://divisionsbc.ca/provincial/what-we-do/patient-support/fetch.
• Provide the patient or caregiver with a copy of the Associated Document: Resource Guide for Older Adults and Caregivers. 

Case managed services available to eligible patients through Home and Community Care within local health authorities include: 

• community nursing for acute, chronic, palliative or rehabilitative support;
• community rehabilitation by licensed physical and occupational therapists;
• adult day services for personal care, health care and social and recreational activities;
• home support for assistance with activities of daily living;
• caregiver respite and relief;
• assisted living and residential care; and
• end-of-life care services.

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Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

Patients with frailty who have multiple complex needs, diagnostic uncertainty or challenging symptom control may benefit from a referral to comprehensive geriatric assessment by geriatric medicine specialists or trained family physicians.⁷

• Physicians and nurse practitioners can contact the Rapid Access to Consultative Expertise (RACE) phone line to speak directly with a specialist, including geriatricians, or can access referral to a geriatric clinic through PathwaysBC.ca. Refer to the Resources section below.

Palliative Care

A palliative approach is needed for patients living with active, progressive, life-limiting illnesses who need pain and symptom management and support around functional or psychosocial issues, have care needs that would benefit from a coordinated or collaborative care approach, and/or have frequent emergency room visits. Assess where patients are in their illness trajectory, functional status, and symptom burden.

• Refer to BCGuidelines.ca: Palliative Care Part 1: Approach to Care and SPICT^TM Tool.

For more information, see www2.gov.bc.ca: Home and Community Care or contact your local health authority.

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Resources

RACE: Rapid Access to Consultative Expertise Program – www.raceconnect.ca

A telephone consultation line for select specialty services for physicians, nurse practitioners and medical residents.

If the relevant specialty area is available through your local RACE line, please contact them first. Contact your local RACE line for the list of available specialty areas. If your local RACE line does not cover the relevant specialty service or there is no local RACE line in your area, or to access Provincial Services, please contact the Vancouver/Providence RACE line.

• Vancouver Coastal Health Region/Providence Health Care: www.raceconnect.ca
• ( 604-696-2131 (Vancouver) or 1-877-696-2131 (toll free) Available Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm
• Northern RACE: ( 1-877-605-7223 (toll free)
• Kootenay Boundary RACE: www.divisionsbc.ca/kb/race ( 1-844-365-7223 (toll free)
• For Fraser Valley RACE: www.raceapp.ca (download at Apple and Android stores) 
• South Island RACE: www.raceapp.ca (download at Apple and Android stores) or see www.divisionsbc.ca/south-island/RACE

Pathways – PathwaysBC.ca   

An online resource that allows GPs and nurse practitioners and their office staff to quickly access current and accurate referral information, including wait times and areas of expertise, for specialists and specialty clinics. In addition, Pathways makes available hundreds of patient and physician resources that are categorized and searchable.

General Practice Services Committee – www.gpscbc.ca 

• Practice Support Program: offers focused, accredited training sessions for BC physicians to help them improve practice efficiency and support enhanced patient care.
• Chronic Disease Management and Complex Care Incentives: compensates GPs for the time and skill needed to work with patients with complex conditions or specific chronic diseases.

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References

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34. Reason B, Terner M, Moses McKeag A, Tipper B, Webster G. The impact of polypharmacy on the health of Canadian seniors. Fam Pract. 2012 Aug 1;29(4):427–32.

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Appendices

• Appendix A - Frailty Assessment and Management Pathway (PDF, 123KB)
• Appendix B - Sample Care Plan Template (PDF, 525KB)
• Appendix C - Medication Review (PDF, 276KB)

Associated Documents

The following documents accompany this guideline

• PRISMA-7 Questionnaire (PDF, 146KB)
• Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test (PDF, 154KB)
• Gait Speed Test (PDF, 148KB)
• Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (PDF, 685KB)
• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (external website)
• Best Possible Medication History (Word Document, 282KB)
• Resource Guide for Older Adults and Caregivers (PDF, 296KB)
• Advance Care Planning Resource Guide (PDF, 165KB)
• Contributors to Guideline (PDF, 103KB)

This guideline is based on scientific evidence current as of the Effective Date.

This guideline was developed by the Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee, approved by the British Columbia Medical Association and adopted by the Medical Services Commission.

The principles of the Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee are to: encourage appropriate responses to common medical situations recommend actions that are sufficient and efficient, neither excessive nor deficient permit exceptions when justified by clinical circumstances. Contact Information Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee PO Box 9642 STN PROV GOVT Victoria BC V8W 9P1 E-mail: hlth.guidelines@gov.bc.ca Web site: www.BCGuidelines.ca

 

Disclaimer The Clinical Practice Guidelines (the "Guidelines") have been developed by the Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee on behalf of the Medical Services Commission. The Guidelines are intended to give an understanding of a clinical problem and outline one or more preferred approaches to the investigation and management of the problem. The Guidelines are not intended as a substitute for the advice or professional judgment of a health care professional, nor are they intended to be the only approach to the management of clinical problems.  We cannot respond to patients or patient advocates requesting advice on issues related to medical conditions. If you need medical advice, please contact a health care professional.

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