How to spot and manage frailty in the emergency department

Frailty is a common issue in emergency departments and nurses can use screening tools to identify it and improve patient outcomes with early detection

Frailty is a common issue in the emergency department (ED) and handling it well is crucial to good patient care.

For many people, their journey with frailty begins in the ED. Emergency nurses have the opportunity to promptly identify frailty and make referrals, improving outcomes for people living with frailty.

What is frailty and how common is it?

Frailty is a state of health where a person lacks the physiological reserve to deal with a minor illness or injury. People living with frailty have higher vulnerability to illness, poorer quality of life and