Proactive care for frailty

Abstract

Many providers aspire to scale up proactive care that prevents escalation of health and care needs, delays onset of disability, and reduces demand for emergency department attendance or admission to hospital or care home. NHS England offers guidance on personalised and coordinated multi-professional support and interventions for people with moderate or severe frailty. This article reflects on the growing international evidence for an integrated proactive approach for older people with frailty and why investing in high-quality, joined-up care for older people across the whole system improves outcomes for people, reduces demand for services, increases system resilience, and delivers economic and societal benefits. Facing up to frailty requires creative whole system workforce planning and development that will be challenging to deliver in the current financial and recruitment context yet all the more worthwhile as scaling up proactive care has the potential to be a game changer.

Keywords: Comprehensive geriatric assessment; Frailty; Integrated care; Proactive care.