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home adaptations - stretching exercises
Jan 15

How Do I Know If I Need A Frailty Assessment?

Matthew

It can be difficult to accept that your needs may change and evolve as the years go by, but this is key if you want to continue living at home independently for as long as possible.

As such, if you’re over the age of 65 or if you’ve noticed any particular symptoms start to manifest/health concerns crop up (known as frailty syndromes), you may want to consider having a frailty assessment carried out so you can make more informed decisions about your future.

 

What are frailty syndromes?

Frailty syndromes are conditions that appear over time, related to age, making us more vulnerable to infections and disease, as well as accidents like slips, trips and falls – all of which increase the risks of disability, hospitalisation and death.

These include:

  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Muscle weakness and loss (known as sarcopenia)
  • Fatigue/exhaustion
  • Slow walking speed
  • Low levels of physical activity
  • Muddled thinking
  • Difficulty moving around
  • Taking a high number of medications regularly (five or more)

 

What happens at a frailty assessment?

If you notice any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your GP to discuss your general health.

A clinical frailty scale is used to assess if you’re living with frailty, focusing on mobility, balance, whether you use walking aids or not, your ability to get dressed, eat, shop and cook, and your ability to manage your finances.

If you receive a score of more than five, you are considered frail.

 

What are the benefits of home adaptations for frail people?

Being aware how your needs may change means that you can implement the necessary home adaptations to ensure that you’re able to age in place successfully.

Making your home more accessible means you can increase your level of independence, reduce hazards that could potentially cause accidents, reduce the need for assisted living and residential care, and improve your general quality of life and wellbeing.

If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with the Practical Bathing team today.

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