Mental health

As we age, a number of factors can compromise our mental wellbeing. This, in turn, has an impact on quality of life and the ability to take medicines. Depression is the most common mental health disorder in older people, affecting one in five people over 65 living within the community and two in five living in care homes. Dementia also has a huge impact on older people, affecting around 20 per cent of people over 80. Two-thirds of people with dementia live at home and are dependent on their family and friends for care. The majority of people also have at least one other longterm medical condition that requires medication.

Frailty

Frailty is a state of increased vulnerability resulting from ageing that is associated with a decline in the body's physical and psychological reserves. For somebody with frailty, a single change, such as the death of a spouse or even the prescription of a new medicine, will have a much larger impact than for a person in good health. Around 10 per cent of people over 65 are frail, rising to between 25 and 50 per cent of people over 85.

Frailty can vary in its severity, but it should be considered a long-term condition that requires management to reduce falls and hospitalisation. Frailty can be managed using a multifactorial approach to prevent falls and hospitalisation, and improve patient health outcomes. Carrying out medicines reviews using evidence-based criteria is a vital part of managing frailty. The terms 'frail' and 'frailty' are used by healthcare professionals (HCPs), but are almost completely rejected by older people. A 2014 report I'm still me asked 'frail' people with an average age of 84 what they valued. The results revealed that they want to be seen as individuals rather than being defined by their health. While they were happy to receive support, they also wished to make their own decisions.