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Supporting people with frailty

What is frailty?

Frailty is a word used in healthcare that is often misunderstood. It is related to the ageing process; however younger people can also live with frailty. It is recognised as a long-term condition, and it relates to your chances of recovery following health problems.

Frailty can cause:

  • You to take longer to ger over an illness or injury and have a long-term impact on your health and wellbeing.
  • An illness or injury to be more serious for you.
  • You to take longer to complete activities.

How might it affect me?

  • Feeling slower
  • Weakness and muscle loss
  • Feeling tired
  • Needing more help with daily tasks—like getting dressed
  • Weight loss without trying
  • Taking a long time to recover from illness.

Please let a professional in the hospital know if you have experienced any of the above prior to admission.

What are the common problems experienced with frailty?

  • Falls– collapse, legs giving way
  • Immobility—sudden change in mobility
  • Delirium—new confusion / muddled (new or worsening)
  • Incontinence—change in continence (new or worsening)
  • Susceptible to side effects of medication

Who are the frailty team at West Suffolk Hospital?

The frailty team is an integrated multi-disciplinary team of:

  • Geriatrician - consultants who specialise in older peoples medicine
  • Resident doctors
  • Advanced clinical practitioners
  • Clinical nurse specialists

The team work alongside other members of the hospital team involved in your care. They may see you in the Emergency Department (ED), Acute Assessment Unit (AAU), Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) or Ward G4.

What can I do about preventing frailty or improving my life if I live with frailty when I go home?

  • Be active each day
  • Exercise regularly
  • Socialise with other people regularly
  • Eat a balanced diet
  • Stop smoking
  • Reduce alcohol intake
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Keep your mind busy: learn new things / hobbies, volunteering, clubs, gardening, read books, solve puzzles etc.

Useful resources

Social Services

For packages of care / care queries:

Community health team

  • Suffolk Community Health Care: 0300 123 2425 Care co-ordination centre (CCC) is a 24-hour service: This is the best contact for nurses / community therapists / bladder and bowel incontinence services
  • Cambridge Community: 0844 931 0045 East Cambridgeshire / Option 3
  • Norfolk Community Health Care: 01953 609409 / Option 1
  • Suffolk wellbeing service: 01473 269110 Free support with mental health and emotional issues

Dementia services

  • Dementia Together: 08081 688 000 Practical information and support for people living with dementia regardless of a diagnosis. Page 6 of 9
  • Alzheimer’s Society: 0300 222 1122 Support for people living with dementia. • Dementia Intensive Support Team (DIST): 01284 733260 Admission prevention support for people living with dementia.
  • Shaftesbury Group: 01449 700733 Suffolk Memory and Dementia Support- for people with memory concerns and dementia and for those caring for family or friends in Suffolk.
  • Dementia UK: 0800 888 6678 Specialist dementia nursing charity providing support and advice via Admiral Nurses.

Suffolk Family Carers

Telephone: 01473 835 477 Supports family carers - advice and support.

Norfolk Carers Support: 0808 808 9876

Our Special Friends

Telephone: 01284 247077

Charity providing animal companionship visits and support in caring for pets in Suffolk.

Fire Home Safety Visit

Home from Hospital

Short term practical support and advice—e.g. housework / cleaning / shopping / befriending. •

  • ACT Supported Discharge Service
    East Suffolk: 01473 527437
    West Suffolk: 01473 527438
  • Help at Home (City and South & East Cambridgeshire): 01223 714433
  • Red Cross (Norfolk): 01603 288320 Support at Home.
  • Age UK Services – Home: 0800 169 6565
    Home Help, Befriending.

Abbeycroft Active Living

Exercise on referral—Consult your GP/clinician for a referral

Numbers for local Active Living teams: