Clinical frailty scale



1 Very Fit

Frailty Scale 1

People who are robust, active, energetic and motivated. These people commonly exercise regularly. They are among the fittest for their age.

2 Well

Frailty Scale 2

People who have no active disease symptoms but are less fit than category 1. Often, they exercise or are very active occasionally, e.g. seasonally.

3 Managing Well

Frailty Scale 3

People whose medical problems are well controlled, but are not regularly active beyond routine walking.

4 Vulnerable

Frailty Scale 4

While not dependent on others for daily help, often symptoms limit activities. A common complaint is being "slowed up": and/or being tired during the day.

5 Mildly Frail

Frailty Scale 5

These people often have more evident slowing, and need help in high order IADLs (finances, transportation, heavy housework, medications). Typically, mild frailty progressively impairs shopping and walking outside alone, meal preparation and housework.

6 Moderately Frail

Frailty Scale 6

People need help with all outside activities and with keeping house. Inside, they often have problems with stairs and need help with bathing and might need minimal assistance (cuing, standby) with dressing.

7 Severely Frail

Frailty Scale 7

Completely dependent for personal care, from whatever cause (physical or cognitive ). Even so, they seem stable and not at high risk of dying (within 6 months).

8 Very Severely Frail

Frailty Scale 8

Completely dependent, approaching the end of life. Typically, they could not recover even from a minor illness.

9 Terminally Ill

Frailty Scale 9

Approaching the end of life. This category applies to people with a life expectancy <6 months, who are not otherwise evidently frail.

Scoring frailty in people with dementia

The degree of frailty corresponds to the degree of dementia. Common symptoms in mild dementia include forgetting the details of a recent event, though still remembering the event itself, repeating the same question/story and social withdrawal.
In moderate dementia, recent memory is very impaired, even though they seemingly can remember their past life events well. They can do personal care with prompting.
In severe dementia, they cannot do personal care without help.



References


Content by Dr Íomhar O' Sullivan. Last review Dr ÍOS 17/04/22.