Managing Frailty in Older Adults: Promoting Healthy Ageing

An innovative, introductory-level course by HKPolyUx

Course Description

This comprehensive course explores the multifaceted nature of frailty, its impact on the quality of life of older adults, and the burden it places on caregivers and healthcare systems. By combining theoretical concepts with real-world applications, this course empowers participants to implement effective strategies for frailty prevention and management, ultimately contributing to the promotion of healthy ageing.

What Students Will Learn

  • Understanding the concept of frailty and its significance in elderly care
  • Identifying risk factors and protective factors associated with frailty
  • Applying various frailty assessment methods and tools
  • Recognizing the relationship between frailty, cognitive functions, and nutrition
  • Implementing evidence-based interventions and strategies to combat frailty
  • Adopting an interdisciplinary approach to frailty management
  • Promoting healthy ageing through frailty prevention strategies

Prerequisites

This course is designed for beginners and does not require any specific prerequisites. However, a genuine interest in elderly care and a basic understanding of health concepts would be beneficial.

Course Coverage

  • Theories and concepts of frailty
  • Risk factors and protective factors associated with frailty
  • Frailty assessment methods and tools
  • Consequences of frailty on older adults and their caregivers
  • Relationship between frailty and cognitive functions
  • Importance of early detection of cognitive decline
  • Nutritional aspects of frailty, including malnutrition and related risk factors
  • Physical functions and frailty, including the concept of sarcopenia
  • Evidence-based interventions for managing frailty
  • Interdisciplinary approaches to frailty management

Who This Course Is For

  • Healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in managing frail older adults
  • Caregivers and family members of older adults
  • Individuals interested in promoting healthy ageing and preventing frailty
  • Students pursuing careers in healthcare, gerontology, or related fields
  • Members of the general public interested in understanding and addressing frailty in older populations

Real-World Applications

  • Healthcare professionals can implement frailty assessment methods and interventions in their clinical practice
  • Caregivers can apply frailty prevention strategies in daily life
  • Individuals can adopt lifestyle modifications to prevent or manage frailty
  • Public health professionals can develop community-based programs for frailty prevention
  • Researchers can design studies aimed at improving frailty management and interventions

Syllabus

Week 1 – What is frailty

  • Theories of frailty
  • Risk factors and protective factors
  • Assessment methods
  • Consequences

Week 2 – Frailty and Cognitive Functions

  • Concepts of cognitive functions
  • Importance of early detection
  • Assessment methods
  • Interventions

Week 3 – Frailty and Nutrition

  • Malnutrition
  • Nutritional related risk factors
  • Assessment tools
  • Interventions

Week 4 – Frailty and Physical Functions

  • Concepts of sarcopenia
  • Assessment tools
  • Interventions