For people living with physical frailty, there may come a time when they are no longer able to live safely and independently at home without extra support. Performing daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, bathing or dressing can become more challenging over time as a result of frailty. These frailty concerns can make it difficult for someone to safely move around their home and even lead to dangerous slips and falls.
Frailty care at home aims to prevent or manage the difficulties associated with frailty so that an individual can enjoy a better quality of life at home. The goal of frailty care is to improve health outcomes and overall well-being for individuals who are at risk of or experiencing frailty.
At Oxford Aunts, we have supported thousands of individuals living with frailty with our one-to-one, tailored support provided by dedicated live-in care experts. An Oxford Aunts carer can provide the physical, emotional and social support you need to continue living independently in the place you love most – your own home.
What does frail mean?
Frail typically refers to a state of physical or mental vulnerability, often associated with older age or chronic health conditions. In the context of frailty care, it usually describes a condition where an individual can no longer manage the daily tasks of living needed to live safely and independently at home.
Frailty can manifest in various ways, including reduced strength, endurance, mobility, balance, and coordination, as well as cognitive impairments, such as confusion, forgetfulness, and disorientation. Frailty can sometimes make it difficult for an individual to stay active or get out into their community, which can lead to social isolation, depression, and anxiety.
What is a frailty index score?
The NHS is the first health system in the world to systematically identify people 65 or over who are living with moderate and severe frailty. This is calculated using the electronic Frailty Index (eFI) or any other appropriate assessment tool.
Some of the assessment tools used to identify frailty include:
A frailty index score is used to measure an individual’s degree of frailty based on a range of health-related factors. The frailty index score is typically calculated by dividing the number of health impairments an individual has by the total number of impairments measured. The resulting number represents the individual’s frailty index score.
The health impairments used to calculate the frailty index score can vary, but often include factors such as chronic health conditions, functional limitations, cognitive impairments, sensory deficits and social isolation. The more health deficits an individual has the higher their frailty index score, indicating a greater degree of frailty.
For individuals over 65, the NHS uses routine health record information to automatically generate a frailty index score. This allows the NHS to identify individuals with moderate or severe frailty and ensure they have the right support.
What is a good frailty index score?
There is no specific “good” frailty index score, as it depends on the individual and their unique health factors. However, a lower score typically indicates a lower degree of frailty and a lower risk of adverse health outcomes.
Here is a helpful guide to understanding the frailty index score:
| eFI Score | Frailty Risk |
| 0 – 0.12 | Without frailty |
| 0.12 to 0.24 | Mild frailty |
| 0.24 to 0.36 | Moderate frailty |
| 0.36 and above | Severe frailty |
Frail care at home
At Oxford Aunts, we know through our experience that living with frailty can have an overwhelming effect on a person’s ability to live life as they had, impacting their overall quality of life. For over 50 years, our fully-managed, live-in care service has supported people living with identified frailties to enjoy a better quality of life with improved health outcomes and enhanced wellbeing.
There’s nowhere better to receive the frail care you need than your own home. For individuals living with frailty, live-in care allows them to continue living life as they always have with support from an experienced and highly-trained carer.
An Oxford Aunts carer can come and live with you in your home to provide you with the care and support you need to carry out everyday activities. They are also there to reduce the burden of day-to-day tasks, including cooking, cleaning and driving you to any appointments you may have. On top of providing practical support, our carers can become a source of friendly companionship and emotional support.
With our fully managed and regulated service, families have reassurance at the time they need it most. Our frail care at home is trusted by families across Oxfordshire and beyond to make a positive difference to a person with frailty, allowing them to live with freedom, independence and confidence.
What are the benefits of frail care at home?
There are countless life-enriching benefits to receiving frail care in your own home rather than enduring the potential disruption of moving into a care home or other residential setting:
- One-to-one, round-the-clock support from an experienced and compassionate carer – something that is nearly impossible to receive in a residential care setting
- Choice over how you live your life with none of the strict schedules and set routines of a care home
- Sensitive and discreet personal care so that you always look and feel your best
- Relief from the burden of domestic chores such as cleaning, washing, vacuuming and ironing
- Support with cooking and meal planning to ensure you enjoy tasty meals and proper nutrition
- Assistance with safely mobilising around your home leading to a reduced risk of slips and falls
What does our frail care include?
- A free, no-obligation home assessment before care starts
- A bespoke, tailored plan of care that addresses not just your care needs but also your wishes and preferences
- A multi-disciplinary approach to care where we work closely with your healthcare teams to improve health outcomes and well being
- An expertly matched carer experienced in caring for people with frailty concerns
- Household management and domestic support
- Cooking, meal planning, shopping and food preparation
- Unrivalled support from a team of care management experts local to you
- Support with safe mobility around your home
- Compassionate companionship and emotional support for all the family
- 24-hour emergency support should you need it
Arrange frail care at home
At Oxford Aunts, we make arranging frail care at home an easy and straightforward process.
Contact our friendly team to arrange for a no-obligation home assessment. One of our expert care assessors will meet with you either at your home or in the hospital if you are awaiting discharge to discuss your care needs and provide impartial guidance.
Talk to us about your frail care needs
Call our friendly and approachable team today to see how we can help you and your family.
