New policy on healthy aging and frailty

Doctors of BC has released a new policy statement, Healthy Aging and Preventing Frailty, that recommends a multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral approach to updating the provincial healthy aging strategy to include prioritizing frailty prevention. This policy statement will be used to support our advocacy work in this area.

In Canada, more than half a million people live with frailty, a state of increased vulnerability and functional impairment caused by the accumulation of multi-systemic issues. Frailty can include loss of muscle mass and strength, reduced energy, and decreased cognitive reserve, and puts older adults at risk of adverse health outcomes, such as falls and increased hospitalization. With the number of adults experiencing frailty set to increase, frailty is a growing public health issue – but it is not an inevitability, and can be prevented or reversed if certain steps are taken.

Doctors of BC developed a number of recommendations to address frailty in the province:

• Developing messaging to increase frailty awareness and provide information about preventative steps.
• Supporting older adults and caregivers to use services, programs and technology to foster strong community links.
• Improving access to and funding for initiatives that support frailty prevention, such as provision of vaccinations, optimizing medications, physical activity, and nutrition.

Doctors of BC is committed to supporting doctors in the province with this important work, and will take a number of steps to do so:

• Raising awareness among members about the part they can play in preventing frailty, such as identifying early risk factors.
• Promoting useful clinical tools and resources to help physicians identify and manage early frailty in their work.
• Ensuring doctors are equipped with information on available community resources and supports that foster healthy aging in BC.

With the support of their doctors and wider communities, British Columbians can age well. While aging is a part of life, frailty does not have to go hand-in-hand with it.

We thank the following stakeholders for their thoughtful feedback: Family Caregivers of BC, UBC, Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Roger Wong, Shared Care Committee, BC Care Providers Association, Council of Senior Citizens Organization of BC, BC Family Doctors, and the Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC.

Find out more about Healthy Aging and Preventing Frailty.