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Geriatric score when your 65

(42 Posts)
Disablednotgeriactric Tue 17-Oct-23 16:52:06

Checking medical records to find frailty score had a nightmare trying to get them to rectify this initially severe frailty after 2 days in hospital. Finally got them to see sense downgraded to mild apparently once your 65 this goes on your records even if your fitter than a youngster

Jess20 Thu 19-Oct-23 12:14:24

We'll, couldn't find frailty score but did find I had a hospital appointment coming up that I wasn't aware of and that I had quite serious surgery for something and that I wasn't fully aware of the diagnosis!!!

Lesley60 Thu 19-Oct-23 12:28:58

I’m on a 4 it was an HCA who did it so not medically trained I’m assuming it’s because I broke my ankle two years ago

Delila Thu 19-Oct-23 12:35:58

I’ve never heard of a frailty or geriatric score. Is it important to know it?

lizzypopbottle Thu 19-Oct-23 13:12:51

Good grief! I'm a practising 5th dan black belt in Shotokan karate, training four times a week for 90 minutes, so six hours total. I lead the warm up exercises for all the classes and teach all the junior classes. I also teach three hours of private lessons every week. I walk briskly when I'm out and about and can put on a turn of speed if necessary. I carry heavy shopping and lift the 12kg bags of dog food to empty into the hopper. I cut my grass throughout the spring and summer. In fact, I cut it yesterday because of the predicted storm and I prune all the bushes.

I don't know what my frailty score is but I doubt if it's no.1 or anywhere near it, simply because I'm 71... However, I don't care! 😂

icanhandthemback Thu 19-Oct-23 13:25:49

You wait until you want to get funding for care through the Continuing Healthcare people. Those frailty scores will become very important particularly when Care Homes, who help do the assessment, scale things very differently because they don't want you to have the funding!
You can be considered severely frail at the time of illness to a much better score later down the line. It is usually assessed every time you enter hospital so hardly worth getting worried about.
Also, whilst you might not feel frail, the assessor will make a judgement about this based on what they observe and if they watch you need support in order to walk or other ailments which might lead you to have a medical need, you will score lower.
All in all, it is nothing to worry about and you will get a better service from your GP if they consider you vulnerable!

MadeInYorkshire Thu 19-Oct-23 14:27:35

Level 6 at 61, I'm screwed ....

Nanatoone Thu 19-Oct-23 18:39:56

I’m 67 and had pneumonia on the spring and I was assessed as very fit. I felt proud to be honest as I am pretty fit for my age.

Ilovedragonflies Thu 19-Oct-23 19:37:48

Just read that report, Casdon - cuing? Do they mean queuing? shock

M0nica Thu 19-Oct-23 20:13:12

Deanswaydolly No, it is not saying over 65 is frail. The definition of '1' on the list is someone hale and hearty who could be running marathons. As one poster said, many younger people would be classified well up the list for frailty.

It might be better to see this F index as measuring Fitness rather than Frailty. Anyone in the first three categories should be capable of holding down a job, depending on what it is.

jess20 I can see no reason why you should have to declare this on an insurance form. It is not a pre existing condition and, as I have already said groups 1 - 3 would describe the majority of the adult population of all ages. If you were beyond 3 then you would be likely to have other medical conditions thaat were the cause of your higher score and these are what you would declare.

albertina Fri 20-Oct-23 09:13:05

Reading this information here has given me a bit of a fright. I am nearly 73 and had Covid six weeks ago.For the first time I felt truly old. My recovery has been slow and I hate the idea of someone giving me marks out of ten on my prospects.

I have a small dog and walk him every day because I have to. We are nearly back to normal walks ie I'm not gasping for air as much. Those walks are my way of measuring my fitness. I thank heavens for him.

Yoginimeisje Fri 20-Oct-23 10:09:11

QuoteElusivebutterfly Well I'm 68 and definitely category 1, I'm pleased to say.

Yoginimeisje Fri 20-Oct-23 10:13:53

Quotelizzypopbottle I would say you're the same as me cat.1

Yoginimeisje Fri 20-Oct-23 10:20:25

I've never heard of this before, wonder want I have been put down as, I wasn't asked anything when I had to have an op a few years back for a broken wrist.

undines Fri 20-Oct-23 12:34:56

I am 72 and Level 1 if you count vigorous walking and hill-climbing daily. The same applies to my 69 year old friend.
When on holiday with a 55 year old friend I ran up stairs quicker than her. I would deeply resent being put into any category for my age.

M0nica Fri 20-Oct-23 16:37:12

I am 80 and spent 45 minutes this afternoon digging up potatoes in an extensive veg garden. Later on I will do my daily 20 minutes of tai Chi.

I have been looking through the extensive paper work associated with 2 possible minor strokes I had earlier this year. The results of the extensive cognitive tests I did are listed, as well as MRI and CT scans. I am described as 'self-caring in my own home and independently mobile', but there is no mention anywhere of a frailty score.

i suspect this score is more talked about than used and only given if there is a specific requirement for it.

Casdon Fri 20-Oct-23 16:45:31

The Frailty index should be routinely collected in GP practices, as it’s part of the GP contract requirements. People who are relatively fit won’t notice this, but for moderately frail and higher levels, the risk assessment tool should be triggered to ensure that they are supported.