Frailty in Later Life

Designed for health and social care professionals who support older people, this course develops the knowledge, skills and critical thinking needed to recognise, assess and respond to frailty across a range of care settings. Participants will explore evidence-informed approaches that promote wellbeing, independence and quality of life while supporting older people and those important to them.

Covering the care continuum from prevention through to palliative and end-of-life care, the course examines frailty assessment, contemporary models of care, ethical decision-making and current policy. Participants will strengthen their ability to deliver person-centred care, evaluate professional practice and contribute to improved outcomes for older people living with frailty.

To view the module descriptor (NURS11094), please visit Programme Specifications and Module Descriptors.

 

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for professionals working with older people who want to strengthen their knowledge and confidence in recognising, assessing and managing frailty across health and social care settings.

It is particularly relevant for:

• Health and social care professionals supporting older people living with frailty or at risk of developing frailty
• Practitioners involved in assessment, care planning and the delivery of person-centred care
• Professionals working with older people, their families and unpaid carers across community, primary, acute and long-term care settings
• Those seeking to strengthen their understanding of evidence-informed approaches to frailty prevention, management and ongoing support
• Practitioners looking to enhance the quality of care and improve outcomes for older people through contemporary, rights-based practice

 

Why take this course?

As more people are living longer with multiple long-term conditions, frailty has become an increasingly important focus for health and social care services. Professionals need the knowledge and skills to recognise frailty early, understand its impact on individuals and families, and deliver care that supports independence, wellbeing and quality of life.

This course helps you develop an evidence-informed approach to frailty across the care continuum, from prevention and early intervention through to palliative and end-of-life care. By exploring contemporary assessment approaches, models of care, ethical decision-making and current policy, you will be better equipped to support older people with complex needs while contributing to high-quality, person-centred care across a range of professional settings.

 

What you will learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Evaluate contemporary understanding of frailty and its impact on older people, their families and carers
• Select and critically assess approaches and tools used to identify frailty and inform person-centred care planning
• Apply evidence-informed strategies to support the prevention and management of frailty across a range of health and social care settings
• Recognise the physical, psychological, social and ethical dimensions of living with frailty, using this understanding to enhance professional practice
• Interpret current policy, guidance and standards of care to support high-quality, rights-based care for older people living with frailty

 

How you will learn

This course is delivered fully online, enabling you to study flexibly alongside your professional and personal commitments. Learning combines self-directed study with active online learning through the University's virtual learning environment, supported by scheduled online tutorials that encourage discussion, reflection and application to professional practice.

The course comprises approximately 200 hours of learning, including 48 hours of asynchronous learning activities, 6 hours of tutor-supported online sessions, 6 hours of personal development planning, and around 140 hours of independent study. Throughout the course, you will engage with contemporary evidence, reflect on your own practice and apply your learning to the care of older people living with frailty.

This flexible approach supports you to develop advanced knowledge and professional capability while balancing postgraduate study with the demands of your workplace.

 

Course content

• Understanding frailty in later life

Explore the concept of frailty, how it develops, and the factors that influence health, function and quality of life in older people.

• Identifying frailty and assessing need

Develop your understanding of frailty assessment tools and approaches that support early identification, informed decision-making and personalised care planning.

• Supporting people living with frailty

Examine evidence-informed interventions and models of care that promote wellbeing, independence and social participation, while recognising the important role of families and carers.

• Delivering ethical, person-centred care

Consider the ethical, legal and rights-based issues associated with frailty, including capacity, risk, safeguarding, restraint and supporting individual choice.

• Coordinating care across the frailty journey

Explore approaches to supporting older people across the care continuum, from prevention and early intervention through to long-term, palliative and end-of-life care in a range of settings.

• Improving practice through evidence and policy

Evaluate current research, policy and standards of care to strengthen professional practice and contribute to high-quality care for older people living with frailty.

 

Assessment

Assessment is designed to help you apply current evidence and critical thinking to the complex challenges associated with frailty in later life.

You will complete a written essay that enables you to evaluate contemporary understanding of frailty, analyse evidence-informed approaches to assessment and management, and consider how policy and professional standards influence care. Drawing on your own professional context, you will critically examine opportunities to enhance outcomes for older people living with frailty and those who support them.

The assessment develops your ability to synthesise evidence, evaluate professional practice and apply informed judgement to support high-quality, person-centred care across a range of health and social care settings.

 

Applying your learning

Throughout the course, you will:

• Apply evidence-informed approaches to frailty assessment and management within your own professional setting
• Reflect on the experiences and needs of older people, their families and carers to inform person-centred decision-making
• Evaluate complex care situations using current evidence, policy and professional standards to support high-quality practice
• Explore practical solutions that promote wellbeing, independence and coordinated care across the frailty journey

You will leave with:

• Greater confidence in recognising and responding to frailty across a range of health and social care settings
• Enhanced capability to assess needs, plan person-centred care and support better outcomes for older people
• Practical skills to apply evidence, policy and ethical principles when managing complex care needs
• A stronger ability to contribute to service improvement and deliver compassionate, high-quality care for people living with frailty

 

Entry requirements

This course is designed for professionals working with older people across health and social care who want to strengthen their knowledge and practice in the assessment and management of frailty.

As this is an SCQF Level 11 course, participants should be prepared to study at postgraduate level. The module descriptor does not specify formal academic prerequisites, making it suitable for experienced professionals seeking to develop advanced knowledge and enhance their professional practice.

 

Certification

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be awarded 20 credits at SCQF Level 11.

These credits may contribute towards further postgraduate study at UWS, where appropriate and in accordance with University regulations.

 

Sector and workforce relevance

As populations age and the number of people living with frailty continues to grow, health and social care services require professionals who can deliver coordinated, evidence-informed and person-centred care across a range of settings. This course reflects contemporary practice by integrating current evidence, frailty assessment, ethical decision-making and policy to support high-quality care for older people.

Participants will strengthen their ability to work with older people, families and multidisciplinary teams to support wellbeing, independence and quality of life while responding to the complex challenges associated with frailty. The course aligns with current professional practice and supports workforce development across health and social care services.

 

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.