Associate Professor Michal Boyd launched “The Frailty Care Guides” at The Selwyn Institute’s Gerontology Nursing Conference in Auckland on 4 October, 2019.  

The Frailty Care Guides were developed as part of Ageing Well National Science Challenge, in collaboration with the Health Quality and Safety Commission New Zealand. The project was led by Associate Professor Boyd. “Frailty is now recognised as a separate and distinct syndrome and there are many interventions that can help to increase a person’s resilience who are at risk of frailty.  The Frailty Care Guides provide concise guidance on common issues associated with frailty”, explains Dr Boyd.

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The guides comprise 26 practical tools covering the full spectrum of frailty, from deterioration and specific health concerns to communication and advance treatment planning. “I’m very excited to see the Frailty Care Guides launched. I know they will be a valuable resource for all providers that care for the complexity associated with frailty”, says Dr Boyd. The Frailty Care Guides can be used in any setting where people at risk of frailty receive care.

Ageing Well National Science Challenge, Director, Associate Professor Debra Waters, commented that “the launch and uptake of the Frailty Guidelines developed by Associate Professor Michal Boyd and her team in collaboration with the Health Safety and Quality Commission, is another example of impact from the research funded by the Ageing Well National Science Challenge.  We congratulate the team for this outcome that will positively affect the lives of some of our most vulnerable citizens.”

The launch of these guides was met with enthusiasm from the almost 300 people in attendance. The guides are available from the Health Quality and Safety Commission website: https://www.hqsc.govt.nz/our-programmes/aged-residential-care/projects/frailty-care-guides/.