Geriatric score when your 65

Why do the NHS waste money on algorithms

I was amazed to find that I had been given a high frailty index score dated on the day of my flu jab a few years ago. The figure indicated that I might require residential care in the near future! I hadn't been asked any questions about my ability to perform every day activities, for which I had no difficulties and led a normal life despite being treated for RA. I brought this up with my GP the next time I saw her, but she unable to downgrade my score, saying the result was never used anyway. I was not happy!

It's only validated after 65 as with younger people who are less able It's not usually a slow downward journey It's a sudden catastrophic event.

That's why it's only important after 65.

It does mean that triage can be appropriate.
I'm not a medic but think they usually ask about the previous 2 weeks.

Having possibly had two small strokes earlier this year (2 doctors say not, 1 says yes). I have several times had to do extensive cognitive tests and I have completed them all with exceptionally high scores.

Every time I do these tests and score high, I feel almost a resentment in the vascular clinic; doctor and nurse, that I am doing something I ought not be doing, that they actally want me to do less well. I am 80.

I feel exactly the same about all the other tests I have done, and the scans I have had, they are almost angry with me for not conforming with all their stereotypes of what I ought to be.

How do they work it out? I was in hospital for 3 weeks back in March, pneumonia and pleurisy, and was def. decidedly weak and wobbly for a while afterwards, but I’d been pretty fit and mobile before, and easily passed the ‘stairs test’ they made me do before I was discharged.

Here’s a simple explanation of the scale from NHS England.
www.england.nhs.uk/south/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/02/rockwood-frailty-scale_.pdf
I don’t have an objection to it being used - unfortunately by the age of 65 a significant percentage of people aren’t at Level 1 on the scale so it is a useful way of gauging fitness, mental capacity and recovery potential. Ideally it would be useful to develop further to use for younger age groups too.

I am 86 and have only been asked “the questions” once, it was when I went for a pre op before my THR
The nurse apologised for having to ask them and after three, stopped and said I am not continuing but I was obliged to ask them.
Since I had that op now three years ago I have not seen a Dr, only spoken to one by phone for my meds review.
I should really like to know now if I have a frailty index based on …. what?

Casdon

Here’s a simple explanation of the scale from NHS England.
www.england.nhs.uk/south/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/02/rockwood-frailty-scale_.pdf
I don’t have an objection to it being used - unfortunately by the age of 65 a significant percentage of people aren’t at Level 1 on the scale so it is a useful way of gauging fitness, mental capacity and recovery potential. Ideally it would be useful to develop further to use for younger age groups too.

Based on the attachment from Casdon, I would think most people are not on Level 1. Most younger people would not be Level 1 either. I imagine most older people who are still generally fit and active would be Level 2 or 3.

How do I find what my frailty score is? No one mentioned it when I was in hospital last year. I was 73 at the time.

kittylester

How do I find what my frailty score is? No one mentioned it when I was in hospital last year. I was 73 at the time.

.

On that scale I would appear to be vulnerable.
I certainly don’t feel vulnerable.
The only thing physically I can’t do is walk far.
I have osteoarthritis and have had surgery for that twice.
But in no other way am I vulnerable unless by a different criteria than my interpretation.

This may be mote useful.
The videos are quite interesting.

www.scfn.org.uk/clinical-frailty-scale#:~:text=The%20CFS%20should%20be%20assessed,two%20weeks%20if%20clinically%20relevant.

LucyAnna

kittylester

How do I find what my frailty score is? No one mentioned it when I was in hospital last year. I was 73 at the time.

.

Apart from the ‘stairs test’, nobody asked me anything either.
I was 74.

LucyAnna thank you. But where would I find out what my score has been assessed as?

When I left hospital, I would have been classed as very frail. Not now.

Would it be on hospital notes forwarded to your GP, Kittylester?

kittylester

LucyAnna thank you. But where would I find out what my score has been assessed as?

When I left hospital, I would have been classed as very frail. Not now.

If you have internet or NHS app access to your medical history/results you will find your score. I accidentally discovered mine when checking blood test results, otherwise I wouldn't have known about it. I certainly wasn't assessed.

shysal

kittylester

LucyAnna thank you. But where would I find out what my score has been assessed as?

When I left hospital, I would have been classed as very frail. Not now.

If you have internet or NHS app access to your medical history/results you will find your score. I accidentally discovered mine when checking blood test results, otherwise I wouldn't have known about it. I certainly wasn't assessed.

kittylester It’s probably more relevant to access your GP records to see what your pre-operative and current frailty score is if you want to confirm your status because everybody is more frail post-operatively than in their normal state of health,. A post op score wouldn’t really tell you anything, it changes as you recover.

Sorry, I should have said the Frailty scale is a risk stratification, not a diagnostic tool.

"If you have internet or NHS app access to your medical history/results"

Where do you find that?

yggdrasil

"If you have internet or NHS app access to your medical history/results"

Where do you find that?

You have to get login and ID codes from your surgery before you can link the app to your GP records.

I have found my score on my electronic record. It was recorded when I had my health check when I changed GPs.

I hadn't heard of this before! If I can access it presumably I need to declare it when I buy travel insurance or my policy may be invalidated should I make a claim on medical grounds when away. I would rather object to being scored behind my back without being informed!

So over 65 is frail....but we cannot claim out state pension as we are fit enough to work full time!!

When was this first brought in? My mother had a long period in hospital before her death in 2017. She would have been classified as 7, but she had excellent care and treatment and was scheduled for discharge with full care support when she died quite suddenly. I was told by medical staff that if she had not signed a DNR they would have resuscitated her and put her on life support. So does the scale really influence treatment?