Frailty: An Indication for Palliative Care

Chronological age alone does not determine the vulnerability or frailty of an older adult. Frailty can, however, profoundly affect the quality of an older adult’s life. Frail adults could benefit from palliative care provided by an interdisciplinary team. The principles of palliative care apply to any population that could benefit from a comprehensive, person-centered plan of care from the time of diagnosis through the illness trajectory. This article presents a conceptual overview of frailty and describes its clinical presentation and treatment options, including palliative care, an intervention used by gerontological nurses to improve the quality of life for frail older adults.