Falling through the cracks: a case study of how a timely integrated approach can reverse frailty

The article 'Social frailty: the importance of social and environmental factors in predicting frailty in older adults' published in the British Journal of Community Nursing in 2019 reviewed the concept and models of frailty and how the role of social and environmental circumstances interplay. To better inform interventions within the community, the impact of social isolation and environmental disorder on frailty and the wellbeing of an individual patient are further explored. This paper describes the case of a 76-year-old man, Tommy, who was living with frailty and how an individualised care plan was undertaken, evidencing the positive effects that an integrated approach from health, social care, housing and the voluntary sector can offer. Multifaceted interventions are described, which were used to reverse frailty and change Tommy's future for the better.