Frailty Screening in Primary Care-Based Memory Clinics: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Findings

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Primary Care Medicine
• Neurology

Background:

• Frailty is a significant predictor of adverse health outcomes in older adults.
• Early identification of frailty can facilitate timely interventions.
• Memory clinics serve a vulnerable population at risk for frailty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of frailty screening in primary care-based memory clinics.
• To assess the integration of handgrip strength and gait speed measures into existing clinical workflows.
• To examine patient, care partner, and healthcare provider perspectives on frailty screening.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods quality improvement initiative was conducted in four Ontario memory clinics.
• Frailty screening utilized handgrip strength and gait speed measures.
• Data were collected from patients (N=216), care partners (N=142), and healthcare providers (N=9).

Main Results:

• Frailty screening was well-received by patients and care partners.
• Healthcare providers found the screening quick, easy to administer, and simple to integrate.
• Implementation was facilitated by the ease of integration, with minimal challenges identified.

Conclusions:

• Integrating frailty screening into memory assessments is feasible and acceptable.
• This integration presents a significant opportunity to enhance health outcomes for older adults.
• The established relationship between frailty and dementia supports this screening approach.