Identification of Frailty

Overview

Initiative type

Redesign

Status

Plan

Published

09 August 2019

Summary

Frailty screening can help identify older people with multiple interacting medical and social problems which create a vulnerability for poor outcomes. This screening identifies people who will benefit from comprehensive assessment. Across Queensland, the Clinical Frailty Scale developed by Kenneth Rockwood, has been endorsed as the agreed standard frailty screening tool.

Key dates

Jun 2018 - Jun 2020

Implementation sites

Older Person models of care are being implemented at 25 sites across Queensland, including 16 in the southeast corner and Cairns, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Mackay, Mount Isa, Townsville, Maryborough, Hervey Bay and Bundaberg.

Aim


To support improved identification of frail older persons to optimise care.

Benefits


  • defines frailty for the Queensland context
  • empowers clinicians to identify patients who would most benefit from targeted assessment
  • assessment that translates into improved patient outcomes

Background


Frail people are at greater risk of death and other adverse health outcomes compared with others of the same age.  Frailty identifies a state of increased vulnerability associated with but not distinct from increasing age and presence of multiple illness’s.  In people who are frail, illnesses can present as nonspecific problems in walking, thinking or functioning, and standard treatments can often worsen the situation. It is vital that frailty is measured objectively and identified early in primary care to be responded to effectively.

Solutions implemented


Clinical Frailty Scale being implemented in public Emergency Departments across Queensland.

Key contact

Laureen Hines

Director Statewide Access

Healthcare Improvement Unit

Email:  Frail_Older_Persons@health.qld.gov.au

Last updated: April 2025

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