Frailty matters to us all

Frailty is increasingly recognised as a major health and social care priority, with growing emphasis on prevention, early intervention, person-centred care and integrated support for older people living with frailty. As populations age and demand on services continues to increase, there is growing need for professionals, carers and communities to better understand frailty and the approaches that can support people to live well and maintain independence.

Frailty Matters to Us All is an accessible online short course designed to introduce participants to the principles of frailty awareness, person-centred support and integrated approaches to care and wellbeing. Drawing on research, lived experience and practice-informed learning, the course explores the physical, emotional, social and environmental factors associated with frailty and considers how individuals, professionals and communities can help support positive outcomes for older people.

The course is suitable for professionals and non-professionals alike and focuses on practical understanding, reflection and real-world application across health, social care, housing, community and voluntary sector contexts.

 

Who is this course for?

This course is suitable for:

• Health and social care professionals
• Care home and community care staff
• Housing, telecare and third sector workers
• Unpaid carers and family members
• Professionals supporting older people within community settings
• Individuals interested in ageing, wellbeing and person-centred support
• Anyone seeking greater understanding of frailty and integrated approaches to care

 

Why take this course?

Frailty affects increasing numbers of people and has significant implications for health, wellbeing, independence and quality of life. Supporting people living with frailty requires greater awareness, collaborative working and person-centred approaches that recognise the importance of prevention, relationships, wellbeing and community support.

This course provides an accessible introduction to frailty and the wider factors that influence ageing well and integrated care. Participants will explore practical approaches to supporting people living with frailty, alongside wider themes including communication, independence, wellbeing, leadership and compassionate care.

Examples and discussion may include early identification of frailty, supporting independence, reducing social isolation, integrated working, self-management, community support and person-centred care approaches across health and social care settings.

 

What you will learn

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Develop greater understanding of frailty and its impact on individuals and communities
• Explore person-centred and strengths-based approaches to supporting people living with frailty
• Understand the importance of integrated and collaborative approaches to care and support
• Reflect on factors that influence wellbeing, independence and quality of life in later life
• Identify practical approaches to supporting communication, inclusion and compassionate care
• Develop greater confidence supporting people living with frailty within professional or community contexts

 

How you will learn

The course is delivered online through a combination of guided learning materials, reflective activities and applied discussion. Participants will engage with practical examples, case studies and person-centred approaches to understanding frailty and supporting wellbeing.

Learning is designed to be accessible for participants from a wide range of professional and personal backgrounds, with an emphasis on practical understanding, reflection and real-world application across community, care and support environments.

 

Course content

This course combines introductory theory with practical exploration of frailty, integrated care and person-centred support. Through reflective learning and applied discussion, participants will explore the wider factors that influence wellbeing, independence and quality of life for people living with frailty.

Topics will include:

• Week 1: Principles of person-centred collaborative practice and Realistic Medicine
• Week 2: Identification and Assessment of Frailty
• Week 3: Managing those with Frailty
• Week 4: Reflection and action learning
• Week 5: Holistic care planning, enablement and treatment escalation
• Week 6: Supporting family carers and signposting to community services and supports 
• Week 7: Leading in Frailty
• Week 8: Reflection and action learning

 

Applying your learning

Throughout the course, participants will reflect on their own professional, caring or community context, exploring opportunities to support wellbeing, independence and person-centred approaches for people living with frailty.

By the end of the course, participants will leave with:

• Greater awareness and understanding of frailty and integrated care approaches
• Increased confidence supporting people living with frailty within professional or community settings
• Practical understanding of person-centred and strengths-based approaches
• Enhanced awareness of the importance of communication, collaboration and wellbeing
• Ideas and approaches that can be applied within workplace, care or community environments

 

Entry requirements

• No formal qualifications required
• Suitable for participants from professional, voluntary or community backgrounds
• No previous knowledge of frailty or health and social care required
• An interest in wellbeing, ageing and person-centred support is recommended

 

Certification

Learners will receive a Certificate of Participation upon completion of the course.

 

Sector and workforce relevance

Frailty is increasingly recognised as a major workforce and public health priority across health, social care, housing and community services, with growing emphasis on prevention, integrated care and person-centred approaches that support people to live well for longer.

This course supports workforce and community capability development in frailty awareness, compassionate care and integrated support approaches. It is particularly relevant for professionals, carers and organisations seeking to strengthen understanding of ageing, wellbeing, independence and collaborative care within community, health and social care environments.