Application of a new frailty care model

Abstract

Frailty is an age-related physiological deterioration that results in weakness, slowness of movement, fatigue, weight loss, and multimorbidity. These limitations lead to an inability to respond to stressors, which ultimately increase risk for poor outcomes including falls, disability, hospitalization, and mortality. Although many medical and physiology-based frailty screening tools and associated theories exist, none are specific to advanced practice nurses and the care of the older adult. For this reason, the authors present the case of a frail older adult and the application of the Frailty Care Model. The authors developed the Frailty Care Model which illustrates a theory that states: Frailty is a fluid condition of aging that will respond to interventions and will progress in the absence of interventions. It is an evidence-based model that helps the nurse practitioner (NP) screen for frailty; apply important nutritional, psychosocial, and physical frailty interventions; and evaluate the care provided to the older adult. The purpose of this article is to present the case of Maria, an 82-year-old woman with frailty, and demonstrate how the NP can apply the Frailty Care Model to inform care of the older adult. The Frailty Care Model is designed so that it can be easily integrated into the workflow of the medical encounter and require little additional time or resources. This case study describes specific examples of using the model to avoid, stabilize, and reverse frailty.