Achieving Royal Pharmaceutical Society competencies: a frailty nurse's perspective

Abstract

Frailty is related to the ageing process and describes how a person's inbuilt reserve struggles to withstand major changes in health, such as infection, a change to medication or a new environment. The British Geriatric Society (2014) approximate that around 10% of people over the age of 65 years have frailty rising to between a quarter to a half of those aged over 85 years. Patients who are deemed frail are often at risk of adverse outcomes; therefore, it is important to seek out these individuals and care for them appropriately. This includes carrying out regular medication reviews and deprescribing where necessary. This article will discuss prescribing for frail patients using the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Competency Framework for all Prescribers.