Major frailty campaign launches

We all have our own perceptions when it comes to frailty, making it a widely misunderstood topic. In reality, it is a condition that means ‘people living with frailty cannot bounce back quickly after unexpected events such as an illness, an accident or other stressful event’ - putting them at risk of losing their independence and unplanned hospital admission.

Surprisingly, frailty is not just seen in older people; people at a much earlier point in their adult life can also experience it. To address these common misconceptions surrounding frailty a major campaign has launched across Hampshire. 

No matter who or where you are, you are urged to get on board with the Frailty Focus campaign, by watching the campaign video (click or see below), and visiting the Frailty Focus website.



With the population set to increase both in size and age over the coming years, the numbers of people recognized to be living with frailty are also expected to escalate. Therefore, the campaign also aims to promote active and healthy ageing to help ensure we continue to meet the expected health and social care needs on an ageing population in Hampshire.

Professor Martin Vernon, National Clinical Director for Older People and Person Centred Integrated Care at NHS England, said: “Active and healthy ageing is important for everyone. Focusing on frailty now creates a golden opportunity to enable more of us to age well while planning ahead, discussing what matters most and ensuring we get the right care and support both now and into the future.”

Frailty Focus will help some of Hampshire's most vulnerable people including those already living with frailty, people at risk of becoming frail, and their family and friends. By raising awareness of the symptoms of frailty, and how it can be avoided or made better, the campaign will help people to make informed decisions about their healthcare, as well as how to take better care of their own physical and mental health. In turn, this may help to prevent unplanned hospital admissions due to illness or injury that could have been avoided.

We may all be at risk of developing frailty at some point in our lives, irrespective of background, gender or ethnicity. By following the Frailty Focus advice, you can tackle frailty head on:

• Forward thinking – “With some forward thinking many of the challenges that frailty brings can be managed, or even avoided”
  
  
• Resilient – “With the right support you can be more resilient to the challenges that later life can bring”
  
  
• Active – “Remaining active and engaged with life is key”
  
  
• Informed in Later life – “If you take action now and arm yourself with the information you need there’s no need to worry about the future”
  

Everyone in Wessex is invited to watch the video and learn some new ways to face-up to frailty.

Take a look here: www.frailtyfocus.nhs.uk

Dr Nicola Decker, a local GP and Clinical Chair at the North Hampshire CCG, said: “Frailty is more common than we realise. This campaign brings people together in a positive way, so that people affected by frailty can have confidence that there is hope and support for them and their families. Working together they can, and should, stay in charge of their lives and their choices.”

Together we can be Forward thinking, Resilient, Active and Informed in Later life