Frailty Rehabilitation: A Community-based Intervention to Promote Healthy Aging
Frailty is an important clinical state that contributes to falls, hospitalization, institutionalization and death. When an individual simultaneously has many health problems, a frailty tipping point may be triggered by even a minor stressful event such as adding a new drug or urinary tract infection. Our research suggests that approximately 23% of Canadians over age 65 are frail, and by age 85 this estimate increases to over 40%. As we learn more about frailty and its consequences, there is an urgent need to develop community-based interventions that will prevent or delay frailty in older adults. Our proposed study will examine if frailty rehabilitation program is an effective community-based intervention to promote healthy aging. The primary objective of our study is to determine if 4-month frailty rehabilitation improves physical function compared with control and exercise alone in community-dwelling older adults living with frailty and sarcopenia. Secondary objectives of our study are to determine if 4-months of frailty rehabilitation can improve functional abilities and reduce healthcare utilization during a 6-month follow-up period compared with control and exercise alone. Results will translate the first Canadian model of frailty and sarcopenia rehabilitation and management.
• Community-dwelling ≥65 years of age
• Able to independently ambulate 25m with or without walking aid
• At high risk for mobility disability/functional limitations
• Received medical clearance
• Can arrange transportation to the YMCA up to 2x/week
• Proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and proof of identification