Frailty identification
Timely identification of frailty alongside appropriate evidence-based interventions can help to reduce the likelihood of progression of frailty and associated poor outcomes.
The following resources can be used by health and social care professionals to improve how people living with frailty are identified, whether in a community or hospital setting.
A selection of case studies and videos explain how health and social care teams in Scotland have improved how they identify people living with frailty.
Tools and resources
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The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a judgement-based frailty tool that assesses the person's illnesses, function and cognition (thinking and understanding) to generate a frailty score ranging from 1 (very fit) to 9 (terminally ill). |
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| THINK Frailty | A frailty assessment tool designed to support clinical decision making in acute hospitals. This tool aids clinical staff in identifying people living with frailty and supports early access to Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA). |
| Improving care and support for people living with frailty in Scotland (May 2022) | This publication from a 90 Day learning cycle on frailty presents findings which have established seven key components of an integrated frailty system across health social care and the independent and third sector. |
| Ageing and frailty standards (November 2024) |
Healthcare Improvement Scotland have developed standards for ageing and frailty in Scotland. The standards draw on current evidence from:
They cover older people who may experience frailty as they age and apply in all settings. |
Examples and case studies
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Developing reliable frailty care pathways: Glasgow Royal Infirmary |
A team from Glasgow Royal Infirmary share how they have reduced the average length of stay for people identified as frail by three days (reduction from 16 to 13 days) with no increase in readmissions. The team has demonstrated that developing person centred frailty pathways can increase how quickly people living with frailty return to live at home or in a homely setting. |
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This story provides snapshots of an individual as they progress through different levels of frailty and highlights the support that can be offered at each stage. |
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| Dr Stephen Carty of Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership | Leith Mount Surgery, a GP practice in Edinburgh, improved the quality of care for people living with frailty by introducing a proactive approach to frailty coding, identification and management. |