Free access to new frailty resource during RCN congress week

A new online resource on helping patients with frailty has been launched, with free access offered to nurses for the next week.

The multimedia resource, developed by the RCN older people's forum and RCNi, focuses on frailty, a clinical syndrome related to the ageing process, in which patients experience loss of reserve, energy and well-being.

It covers how to recognise frailty and includes guidance on how to manage patients with frailty using a gold-standard process of care called 'comprehensive geriatric assessment'.

The resource collection includes audio recordings, features, videos and a peer-reviewed learning module.

'An emotive subject'

RCN professional lead for older people and dementia care Dawne Garrett said: ‘Frailty is an emotive subject and no one likes to be considered frail. However, the clinical syndrome of frailty is affecting an increasing number of people.

'Recognition of frailty is important as it can be assessed and interventions can improve an individual’s quality of life.

'Whether you are looking for information to signpost a patient or relative to, or want to enhance your nursing skills, you will find this accessible, multimedia resource invaluable.'

Global research

Ms Garrett added that all nurses who work in care homes, emergency departments or surgical wards are likely to care for older people with frailty.

'For specialist nurses working with older people, directions in global research on frailty and the importance of the integration agenda are also outlined.’

The frailty resource is free to registered rcni.com users during RCN congress week and will remain free to subscribers thereafter.

To access the resource click here

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