DECREASING MENTAL FRAILTY IN AT-RISK ELDERS

Frailty may be used to describe those older adults who are in precario us balance between their abilities to maintain health and function and their deficits that threaten the balance. Frailty often is described in purely physical terms, omitting the mental and psychologic aspects. (1-4) When the term is applied to the mental abilities of older adults , frailty is associated with memory vulnerability in the cognitive dom ain and depression in the psychologic domain. Compromised thinking, an xiety, and decreased confidence in memory are symptoms of mental frail ty. This article examines the effects of aging on memory and the inter twining factors of depression and self-efficacy as treatable anteceden ts of mental frailty in older adults. The article also describes simpl e assessment techniques, explores memory improvement strategies, and c onsiders nursing implications.