Frailty in Adults
- Credits
- 15 (Level 6)
- Course code
- NUR 30213
- Contact details
- Contact Course Administration Office
- Contact email
- nursing.cpd@keele.ac.uk
- Starting months
- January
Course overview
There is a need for care for the frail adult to be compassionate and integrated and underpinned by a firm base of evidence. It is important to recognise frailty as a “distinctive” state, rather than one based on age and to understand how frailty increases a person’s vulnerability to changes in health which may lead to a crisis.
Overview
Healthcare professionals must be aware of the risks associated with frailty and work in an integrated way with the person, their families and other professionals to safely manage care. Healthcare professionals should view all interactions as an opportunity assess people who may be considered frail and to develop plans of care which are effective and collaborative.
This module will equip professionals from any discipline with the skills to identify, assess and manage people in their care who may be at risk of frailty and to maximise opportunities for supporting them.
Module aims
This module aims to enable healthcare professionals to examine and reflect upon the fundamental principles of caring for adults presenting with frailty and to appraise appropriate assessment and treatment strategies.
Students who successfully complete this module will be able to:
- Recognise and evaluate the risk factors for and signs of frailty in adults (including those from minority groups) and review a range of assessment tools that may assist in the detection of frailty. -Identify and discuss strategies to maximise effective communication with people who are frail, their carers, the multidisciplinary team and other agencies to facilitate smooth transitions between services, taking into account potential barriers to communication. - Analyse strategies which improve effective care delivery for people who have multiple morbidities including medicines management. - Evaluate the influence of current knowledge and policy in relation to frailty.
- Identify and discuss strategies to maximise effective communication with people who are frail, their carers, the multidisciplinary team and other agencies to facilitate smooth transitions between services, taking into account potential barriers to communication. - Analyse strategies which improve effective care delivery for people who have multiple morbidities including medicines management. - Evaluate the influence of current knowledge and policy in relation to frailty.
- Analyse strategies which improve effective care delivery for people who have multiple morbidities including medicines management. - Evaluate the influence of current knowledge and policy in relation to frailty.
- Evaluate the influence of current knowledge and policy in relation to frailty.
Entry requirements
A healthcare professional registered with an appropriate professional body (e.g. NMC, HCPC) and working in a relevant clinical area as confirmed by the module lead.
Module content
- Assessment tools for frailty
- Managing risk
- Communication
- Pressure area care
- Nutrition/hydration
- Continence
- Falls prevention
- Health promotion
- Case management
- Medicines management
- Service user/carer issues
- Frailty in minority groups eg BAME, LGBT, Learning Disability
Teaching and assessment
The principal learning and teaching methods used in the module may include:
- Lectures, seminars and workshops: The core of each module delivery mode is a series of face to face tutor-led or group-led seminars or workshops.
- Web-based learning using the Keele Learning Environment (KLE), Blackboard.
- Group work and peer support. All modules use focused group work and class discussions within face to face tutor time.
- Directed independent study. Most of the study hours for each module comprise independent learning by expecting participants to add depth and breadth to their knowledge of topics, to practice skills and to reflect on critical incidents and their practice.