Factors Related to Frailty among the Elderly in South Korea: A 3-year Longitudinal Study

PURPOSE To examine factors associated with frailty among the young-old elderly (YOE) and old-old elderly (OOE). METHODS This longitudinal study with a 3-year follow-up included 486 participants who received home care services. FINDINGS Precipitous weight loss and depression in the YOE and worsening of complex mobility and depression in the OOE were associated with worsened frailty over the 3-year period. CONCLUSIONS To prevent frailty, we suggest weight-loss prevention programs for the YOE, lower-limb exercise programs for the OOE, and depression management programs for both groups. Implications for Nursing Practice The findings may be used by geriatric nurses in developing programs to prevent frailty in the OOE and YOE, and in administering nursing intervention programs at nursing home centers.