Frailty Education: Promoting Geriatric Competencies Among Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residents

Abstract

Frailty, a geriatric syndrome of growing importance in recent years, has been shown to be associated with increased risk of disability and adverse health and socioeconomic outcomes. Therefore, there is a need for new educational strategies for physical medicine and rehabilitation residents to promote greater geriatric competencies, with a focus on developing customized evaluation and management plans. With this article, the aim is offering a quick reference tool summarizing the latest evidence on the rehabilitative management of frailty. Indeed, a comprehensive geriatric evaluation is needed before developing an evidence-based and individually tailored rehabilitation program including physical activity, educative strategies, nutritional interventions, and proposals for social reintegration. In the future, appropriate educational training may allow a more careful management of these patients, with consequent improvements in quality of life and functionality.