Consensus statement on frailty in the community – The Medical Journal of Australia

A new national framework designed to help older Australians maintain their independence and strength has been established through the release of the Australian Consensus Statement on the Prevention and Management of Frailty Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults. Published on May 4, 2026, in the Medical Journal of Australia, the statement provides a comprehensive roadmap for healthcare providers and patients to identify and manage frailty before it leads to severe functional decline.

The consensus statement is the result of a modified Delphi study, which involved iterative discussions among six frailty care working groups and validation rounds to ensure a high level of agreement among multidisciplinary experts and consumers across Australia.

Annual Screening and Early Identification

A central recommendation of the framework is the implementation of annual screening for adults aged 65 and older. By identifying frailty early, clinicians can provide personalized counseling and support to manage chronic comorbidities and encourage health behaviors that prevent further decline.

The guidance emphasizes a lifelong approach to health promotion, suggesting that awareness and screening should be integrated into routine care to ensure that interventions are applied when they are most effective.

Nutritional Interventions for Frailty

Nutrition is identified as a critical pillar in delaying the onset of frailty. The consensus statement suggests that an individualized, balanced, and protein-rich diet is likely to be effective in maintaining muscle mass and overall function in community-dwelling older adults.

The framework directs healthcare providers to prioritize the identification and treatment of nutritional deficiencies and protein-energy malnutrition. For those experiencing severe frailty, the statement recommends a nutrition care plan that may include the relaxation of certain dietary restrictions to align with the individual’s specific goals of care.

Physical Activity and Functional Training

To combat the physical decline associated with frailty, the statement advocates for progressive and ongoing exercise programs. These programs should be tailored to the individual’s specific frailty level and supervised by healthcare professionals to ensure safety and efficacy.

The recommended exercise regimen is a combination of several modalities:

• Aerobic exercise to maintain cardiovascular health.
• Resistance exercise to preserve muscle strength.
• Balance and functional training to reduce the risk of falls and maintain mobility.

Social Prescribing and Holistic Support

Recognizing that frailty is not solely a physical condition, the framework introduces the role of social prescribing to foster social engagement. This process is intended to be co-designed with a link worker who helps the older adult access meaningful and culturally appropriate activities.

These social plans are customized to the person’s frailty level, ensuring that the activities are accessible and support the individual’s psychological well-being alongside their physical health.

Medication Management and Optimization

The consensus statement also addresses the complexities of polypharmacy in older adults. It calls for comprehensive, multidisciplinary medication reviews that are tailored to the patient’s health status, personal preferences, and degree of frailty.

The goal of these reviews is to optimize the use of medications, minimize potential harm, and support functional independence across all stages of frailty.

By combining nutritional support, tailored exercise, social connectivity, and rigorous medication review, the framework aims to provide a standardized yet flexible approach to aging that prioritizes the quality of life and functional capacity of older Australians.