What do we mean by ‘Frailty’?
Frailty is a word that is often used and can sometimes be used within the wrong context. It refers to a person’s mental and physical resilience, and their ability to bounce back and recover from events such as injury or illness (Age UK).
“Frailty can develop as a consequence of age-related decline. However, to be older is not automatically to be frail” (‘Age: the least important number?’ The Lancet Healthy Longevity, Volume 1, ISSUE 3, e89, December 2020)
Many people may believe that frailty is part of the ageing process – which is why Live Longer Better Gloucestershire aims to challenge attitudes to ageing. It is also recognised that frailty is a term that is not popular with the general public.
Linking back to the LLB conditions that impact ageing. We can see that the conditions can all be related to frailty:
- Lack of fitness – physical activity is a great way to prevent frailty, especially in preventing falls. We also know that activity can help promote independence, social connections and cognitive development.
- Disease/Health condition – Frailty is a long-term condition, which means that we can prevent the risk of it developing and it can be managed.
- Negative Attitudes – As we mentioned above, we need to change the narrative around ageing so that we know that to be old does not mean to be frail.
- Inequalities – differences in lifestyle impact the risk of frailty
Frailty in Gloucestershire
As stated in the Gloucestershire Frailty Strategy in 2022, there were approximately 90,000 people classified as living with mild, moderate or severe frailty in Gloucestershire.
The role activity (physical, cognitive & emotional) has on preventing frailty
Frailty is often associated to an increase risk of falls and it is very well documented that strength and balance exercise can help reduce your risk of falls. Across Gloucestershire, there are a number of community-based strength and balance classes.
Fall-Proof
Fall-proof can improve your strength and balance, help to maintain your independence and keep you out and about doing the everyday things you love to do.
Become Fall-Proof with our helpful guide.
Get involved with Live Longer Better Gloucestershire
Join the movement
Become a we can move Changemaker today and access the Changemaker programme, designed to help you to help others move more.
Live Longer Better training
Would you like to learn more about Live Longer Better and about how you can support older people to be active? Take a look at the Learning with Experts training offer.
Share opportunities
Do you run an activity that is suitable for older people? Or do you go to a class that you want to encourage others to join?
Share it with us on our socials or get in contact – we can help spread the word!
