Frailty and respiratory disease in primary care
Primary care should seek to identify and provide proactive support to older people living with frailty. An extended consultation should be considered that should ideally include the patient’s usual carer to enable a comprehensive review, confirmation of current diagnoses, and review of all medications.
Appropriateness of self-administered medication should be considered if dexterity or cognitive issues are present. Patients should have a clear, concise management plan that is available to and understood by all those providing care. Exercise, including pulmonary rehabilitation, should be encouraged where appropriate.
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Date for review: 12th October 2025
Valerie Gerrard (Nurse Practitioner in Norfolk) joins Dr Steve Holmes (GP in Somerset) to discuss some of the issues around frailty and older people, using the Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale and the importance of de-prescribing medication in the elderly.
How can referrers and practitioners who run courses communicate the benefits of PR to patients?