The Malnutrition Pathway has developed a new online resource focusing on frailty and the syndromes sarcopenia and malnutrition which often co-exist and contribute to frailty (www.malnutritionpathway.co.uk/frailty_guide). The resource ‘A Guide to Managing Frailty, Sarcopenia and Malnutrition’ has been written by Consultant Geriatrician Dr Sanjay Suman, and the Malnutrition Pathway Clinical Director and Consultant Dietitian Dr Anne Holdoway. The guide aims to enable health and care professionals to recognise the signs of frailty, sarcopenia and malnutrition and encourage action to identify and tackle nutritional issues that are contributing and could be addressed with referral for further assessment if required.
“By failing to identify and treat frailty, sarcopenia and malnutrition we are placing individuals at risk of adverse outcomes,” says Dr Sanjay Suman, Consultant Geriatrician. “All health and social care professionals have the opportunity to assess frailty in those who are vulnerable, and this new resource includes advice on simple clinical observations and muscle strength measurements that can be incorporated into consultations. Exercise and nutrition are the cornerstone of management of these conditions and there is increasing evidence that nutrition and movement have a positive effect on health outcomes.”
“Making timely interventions to improve an individual’s nutritional and physical status can assist individuals in maintaining their body composition and function, which can have a positive impact on their quality of life and survival,” says Dr Anne Holdoway, Consultant Dietitian and Chair of the Malnutrition Pathway panel. “By incorporating a number of simple assessments into consultations all health and care professionals can assist in identifying frailty, sarcopenia and malnutrition. This new resource outlines some appropriate identification tools and includes advice on adopting a person-centred, holistic approach to treatment and prevention.”
Click here to access ‘A Guide to Managing Frailty, Sarcopenia and Malnutrition’ and here to access the accompanying patient leaflet.