What is frailty?
Frailty is a term used in healthcare that is often misunderstood. Frailty means your recovery from illness or injury can take longer or be more difficult. It is more common as we age, but younger people can also live with frailty.
People living with frailty may notice:
- Feeling slower
- Feeling tired
- Weakness and muscle loss
- Needing more help with daily tasks like getting dressed
- Weight loss without trying
- Taking a long time to recover from illness
What can you do?
- Be active
- Exercise regularly
- Eat a balanced diet
- Stop smoking
- Reduce alcohol intake
- Maintain a healthy weight
What will happen during a home visit?
We will review your overall healthcare and see if any changes could be made to better support you to prevent unnecessary or prolonged stays in hospital. The most appropriate clinician from the team will visit you in your own home to discuss how you are managing and undertake a comprehensive health assessment, including a medication and cognitive and wellbeing review. A nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or pharmacist may visit you dependent on your needs. The health assessment may include a physical examination and medical tests.
The assessment will also include:
- Discussions around how to remain as independent as possible, being active and socially connected.
- How you may want any future episodes of illness and decline to be managed including what’s important to you.
This may also include your views and wishes about medical interventions, preferences for future care and your wishes towards the end of your life.
- Carer assessments and support will be offered to family/carers. The frailty service is a short-term service dependent on your health needs.
- As part of the agreed plan with you and with a view to provide ongoing support, we may refer and share information with other professionals such as GPs, acute hospitals and other health and social care teams to provide the best support to you and your family/carers.
Helpful local contacts
Lancashire Carers N-Compass
Carers’ assessments, information, advice and a wide range of specialist support services designed to help carers continue in their caring role for as long as they choose and reduce the impact the caring role can have on their own health and wellbeing.
Regenerage
Enable people to live well with memory concerns and dementia, reduce loneliness and isolation and provide a Will and financial planning service amongst wider support.
Age UK
Help and support offered, including hospital after care service, dementia services, day care, foot care services and wellbeing calls.
Lancashire Social Services
0300 123 6720
Evaluation of care needs and financial assessments are offered. These may include practical help and support with personal care and meal preparation to keep you as independent as possible. We always want to provide a good service, so if you have any feedback, compliments or complaints about the service please contact 01772 777 483 and ask to speak with the team leader.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
If you have some concerns, questions or need advice on our services, you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 0800 234 6088 or email PALS@lscft.nhs.uk
Need mental health support?
Call 0800 953 0110 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or by calling NHS 111, selecting option 2.
Text support can be reached by messaging Shout, which is a free, confidential and 24/7 texting service. Simply text ‘Shout’ to 85258. Further support is available through Kooth offering self-help resources, online messaging and support for young people aged 11 to 25.
Additionally, the Hub of Hope provides a directory of mental health support and services across the UK.
This leaflet is available in alternative languages and formats upon request. Please speak to a member of our staff to arrange this.