Resources

Frail and pre-frail estimates for Australia:

Frailty mapping instrument

Developed by Dr Danielle Taylor, and Dr Helen Barrie, in conjunction with Prof Renuka Visvanathan, international investigator Dr Olga Theou, Mr Mark Thompson and Mr Jarrod Lange.

The SEARCH (Self-Assessed Report of Personal Capacity & Healthy Ageing) is an assessment of personal capacity and health using self-reported questions. The SEARCH tool can be used for frailty screening. Any deficits identified in screening should be followed up with assessment by a health professional.

The SEARCH-Plan is a resource for health professionals which provides recommendations for further assessment for personal capacity deficits identified in SEARCH. A range of potential interventions are described in the second part of the document.

The SEARCH and SEARCH-Plan are Copyright of the University of Adelaide (2021) and were developed by Mark Q Thompson, Solomon Yu, Olga Theou, and Renuka Visvanathan. The SEARCH was first published as the 'Adelaide Frailty Index' as Supplementary File #2 in:

• Ambagtsheer RC, Visvanathan R, Dent E, Yu S, Schultz TJ, Beilby JMD. Commonly used screening instruments to identify frailty among community-dwelling older people in a general practice (primary care) setting: a study of diagnostic test accuracy. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2020;75(6):1134-42. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glz260

These works are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. These works can be freely used in un-altered form and acknowledging the University of Adelaide.

Current guidelines on frailty:

• The British Geriatric Society has launched a two-part guidance on the recognition and management of older patients with frailty in community and outpatient settings: "Fit for Frailty"
• The Global Ageing Research Network has generated a "White Book On Frailty"

Current guidelines on nutrition:

• The NSW Government Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) Nutrition Services has developed the "Best Practice Food and Nutrition Manual for Aged Care, 2nd Edition"
• Eating Well booklet: This book provides practical food and nutrition ideas and advice for older people who have unintentionally lost weight or at risk of malnutrition, their carers and support workers.
• Eating for Health and Independence. A resource with recipes designed to keep frail older people as well-nourished as possible.

Hints and tips for maintaining good nutrition:

• The ​Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) of NSW Eating Well Booklet
  This book provides practical food and nutrition ideas and advice for older people who have unintentionally lost weight or at risk of malnutrition, their carers and support workers.
• The ​Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) of NSW Eat Well for Life. Nutrition for the well older person
  Suitable for older people in good health who require who want the latest in nutrition to maintain good health.

Hints and tips for exercise:

• Centre for Physical Activity in Ageing, SA Health Fact Sheet: Rehabilitation exercises for older adults
• Centre for Physical Activity in Ageing, SA Health Fact Sheet: Exercising for older adults
• Centre for Physical Activity in Ageing, SA Health Fact Sheet: Exercises to avoid for older adults