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A research programme in the United States has defined frailty as a progressive inability to deal with physical and psychological stress, involving weight loss, physical slowdown, loss of muscle strength and a sense of exhaustion. Frail is a word often used about older people. If you've ever watched an older person in decline, you'll recognise the word and have an image of what it means. And in Australia, a lot of money and effort goes into assisting the frail elderly. But research in the United States has found that people mean different things when they use the word 'frail' which could imply that the so-called frail are being misclassified and not necessarily getting the right kind of help. A decade long research programme in the United States has progressively wrestled the definition of frailty to the ground. Essentially it's a progressive inability to deal with physical and psychological stress and involves three or more things including weight loss, physical slowdown - for example not walking as quickly, loss of muscle strength and a sense of exhaustion - losing get up and go. And that's independent of whatever illnesses the person may have. The question is whether being frail is a sign you're about to turn up your toes or if it can be prevented or reversed. So far there's not a lot of evidence, but the suggestion is that keeping active, having good social contacts and supports and muscle strength training with weights are good beginnings.
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