Frailty & Surgery: What You Need to Know

Frailty is when someone's body has become weaker and may be less able to bounce back from stress like illness, injury, or surgery. It often means someone may have less strength, energy, or muscle, and everyday tasks might feel harder.

People living with frailty may:

Walk more slowly
Feel tired more often
Lose weight without trying
Find it harder to think clearly or remember things.

Frailty usually develops slowly over time and often happens when someone lives with long-term health problems. The good news is that there are ways to support your health and build strength, especially before surgery.

Even if someone living with frailty looks or feels fine day-to-day, becoming stronger before surgery can help to:

Decrease complications during or after surgery
Decrease falls or weakness after surgery
Shorten time in hospital and make recovery faster
Stay independent or return to usual activities more quickly
Decrease the need for home support or moving to a more supported living environment

How Do We Know if Someone is Living With Frailty?

Your health care team may use something called the FRAIL Scale. It is a short set of questions that helps identify if someone is living with frailty. It is not perfect, but it is a good starting point. If the answers suggest you many be living with frailty, your health care team can take a closer look and give you support to help improve your health and recovery from surgery.

The FRAIL Scale questions are:

Have you felt tired or had low energy most or all of the time in the past month?
Is it hard to climb one flight of stairs without resting?
Is it hard to walk one block (about 100 meters)?
Do you have five or more long-term health conditions (like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes)?
Have you lost more than 5% of your body weight in the past 6 months without trying?

What Can You Do Before Surgery?

Sometimes your health care team may suggest you see a geriatrician, who is a doctor that specializes in caring for older adults and people with complex health needs. They can:

Review your medications, medical history, diet, and overall health
Check your memory and thinking
Help you stay as strong and healthy as possible before surgery
Share ways to protect your brain before and after surgery

Remember: you are not alone. Your health care team is here to support you every step of the way. The goal is to make your surgery and recovery as safe, smooth, and personal as possible.

Get Moving the Right Way for You

Improving your physical strength and balance before surgery can help you:

Heal faster
Stay steady and avoid falls
Get your independence back sooner

Healthlink BC's Strength and Balancing Exercise (STABL) programs

Free home exercise programs that are available as a follow along video or a PDF handout.

3 levels - sit, stand, and move.
Choose the level that feels right for you and repeat it 2 days per week.

STABL - Level 1 - Sit Handout

STABL - Level 2 - Stand Handout

STABL - Level 3 - Move Handout

People with frailty often need extra support to get moving safely. Here are some options for additional support.

Choose to Move

A free 3-month program to help you be more active in a way that works for you.As part of the program, you will:

Complete a one-on-one session with a trained activity coach to set goals and make a plan that fits your lifestyle and abilities.
Choose activities you enjoy and can do!
Participate in 8 group meetings to connect with others, share successes, talk about challenges, learn helpful tip about health and wellness, and support each other.

Go to choosetomove.ca/register to join. You will receive a registration package via email with the online and in-person options.

Clinical Exercise Physiologist

Clinical Exercise Physiologists are available for free through HealthlinkBC. They can help you with:

Personalized exercise advice
Pre-screening for fitness programs
Connecting you with exercise program or health professionals

Call *811 (*711 for hearing impaired) or connect by email

Physiotherapist

Physiotherapists can help you make a personal plan to safely build strength and stamina before surgery.

To connect with a Physiotherapist:

You do not need a referral
Visit bcphysio.org to find a physiotherapist near you.
Physiotherapy may be partially covered by the Medical Services Plan (MSP) Supplementary Benefits program. Check the BC Government website for more information.

Fuel Your Body With the Right Nutrition

Eating well gives your body the power to heal. Many people living with frailty do not eat enough calories or protein, which can slow recovery. Check out the Nutrition section for more information about health eating habits before surgery.

A dietitian can help you understand what your current diet may be missing and give you ideas to meet the guidance above. To contact a dietitian::

You do not need a referral to see a dietitian
Contact a dietitian through HealthlinkBC by calling *811 or by email
Visit BCdieticians.ca to find a dietitian near you.
Dietitian services are not covered by MSP, but are covered by many extended health benefits and insurance plans.