Frailty in Later Life

A hallmark of ageing is diversity, and while many people around the world will live relatively healthy independent later lives, there will also be many individuals of the same age who struggle with complex syndromes and comorbidities and a range of social disadvantages and vulnerabilities.  This module (NURS11094) focuses on developing an appreciation of the concept of frailty and the experiences and needs of people living with frailty in later life.  Students will explore the nature of pre-frailty and frailty, the functional and health trajectories of frailty and advanced later life and the range of evidence-based interventions and service models that foster wellbeing, independence and ongoing social participation.

The module contents embrace the care spectrum from prevention to palliative and end of life care aligned with ageing in place and contemporary interpretations of long term care, including care at home and care within nursing homes.  Ethical dimensions of practice and policy related to protecting vulnerable people will include consideration of rights-based approaches, abuse, restraint, risk taking, capacity and self-determination.

At the end of this module the student will be able to: 

• Conceptualise and evaluate the influence of current knowledge on the concept of frailty.
• Critically review a range of assessment tools that may assist in the detection of frailty in older people.
• Critically appraise evidence informed approaches to managing frailty, working with the older person, their family and caregivers.
• Analyse the experience of frailty for the older person and their family.
• Appraise current government directives and standards of care for older people living with frailty.

This is an SCQF Level 11 module and upon successful completion, participants will be awarded 20 credits.

To view the module descriptor, please visit Programme Specifications and Module Descriptors 

Delivery 

This module is a fully online module with optional 3 weekly academic support sessions provided.  Proposed timetable as follows (times to be confirmed):

• Week 1: w/c 15/09/25: Introducing Frailty
• Week 2: w/c 22/09/25: Identifying Frailty & Realistic medicine
• Week 3: w/c 29/09/25: Assessing Frailty 1
• Week 4: w/c 06/10/25: Assessing Frailty 2
• Week 5: w/c 13/10/25: Consolidation
• Week 6: w/c 20/10/25: Optimising Function
• Week 7: w/c 27/10/25: Managing Frailty
• Week 8: w/c 03/11/25: Supportive & Palliative Care
• Week 9: w/c 10/11/25: Consolidation
• Week 10: w/c 17/11/25: Frailty in Care Environments
• Week 11: w/c 24/11/25: Collaborative and cross sectoral working to support people who are frail
• Week 12: w/c 01/12/25: Carers, Compassionate communities and Community Led Support
• Week 13: w/c 08/12/25: Consolidation & Assignment submission
• Week 14: w/c 15/12/25: Consolidation & Assignment submission

Presenter

This module will be delivered by Helen Rainey.

NOTE: This is a university module and upon approval of your application, you will be invited to register and then supported to complete enrolment. To enrol on the university system, the first step involves security set-up using the Microsoft Authenticator app; you will need to ensure that you have a compatible smartphone.

Further enrolment information is available at the Student Information Portal.

To access this module via the CPD route, individuals should be ordinarily resident in Scotland.