Geriatric Medicine (NEW)

Frailty

Frailty is a clinically-recognizable state of decreased reserve in older adults with increased vulnerability to acute stressors resulting from functional decline across multiple physiologic systems.

  • Functional decline includes progressive limitation in the ability to carry out basic functional activities.
  •  Frailty is associated with higher risk of in-hospital death, adverse events, length of stay, hospital readmission, and newly dependent at discharge following critical illness.

Stages 1-4 All views

Stage 1 – Nonblanchable erythema of intact skin.

Stage 2 – Partial thickness superficial skin loss involving epidermis and/or dermis that usually presents as an abrasion, blister, or shallow crater.

Stage 3 – Full thickness skin loss with damage or necrosis of subcutaneous tissue that may extend down to, but not through, underlying fascia, presenting as a deep crater with or without undermining of adjacent tissue.

Stage 4 – Full thickness skin loss with extensive destruction, tissue necrosis, or damage to muscle, bone, or supporting structures (e.g. tendon or joint capsule), and may be present with undermining and sinus tracts.

Pressure Ulcers - Stages 1-4