5 signs of frailty in later life

CAMILLA FOSTER looks at how it’s diagnosed and whether symptoms can be reversed

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RESULTS from a new National Audit Office (NAO) report suggest that many older adults with frailty are not receiving the followup care they need after diagnosis.

The NAO found that frailty assessments for over-65s still haven't returned to pre-pandemic levels, and GPs often fall short in providing required post-diagnosis care.

Of the 226,000 people diagnosed with severe frailty in 2024/25, only 16% received a medication review and 18% had a falls assessment.

Here, Dr Nasrin Razzaq, GP lead for personalised care with an extended role in frailty at GP Pathfinder Clinics, highlights some key signs of frailty to look out for

1. SLOW WALKING SPEED

Being able to recognise frailty includes things like being slower, what we call 'gait speed,' and you can measure that. One of the ways that we measure it is something called a Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, where we have a stopwatch and get a person to stand up, walk three meters, turn around and walk back again.