Frailty (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)
Those at risk
Patients considered to be higher risk are:
- Those who have sensory, physical or mental disabilities for which activities of daily living prove more challenging.
- Those with chronic pain due to age or disease such as arthritis or diabetes.
- Those with poor mental health due to endogenous depression or as a result of other chronic disease.
- Older people with reduced BMI, general muscular weakness, low speed and low physical activity, communication issues, visual/hearing impairment and continence problems.
- Those with long term conditions such as all forms of Cardiovascular Disease (predisposing to heart failure, strokes and reduced exercise tolerance and functioning), Respiratory Disease resulting in frequent admissions and reduced quality of life and diabetes causing systemic multi organ failures.
- Those with a diagnosis of dementia and those 'institutionalised' in social care such as care homes.
Across all English Local Authorities in 2015 / 16, the borough of South Tyneside had the 6th highest rate of permanent admissions of individuals aged over 65 to residential or nursing care homes.