Redefining Frailty: Planning Care Through the Frailty Trajectory Model

Figure 1. The frailty cycle begins when an individual is already frail and thus vulnerable to decline, designated as baseline frailty. An acute health event or medical intervention initiates the cycle. Despite usual care, there is deterioration in cognition, function, mobility, and/or symptoms, resulting in incomplete recovery. This stepwise decline defines the frailty cycle: Each event establishes a new, higher baseline of dependency and frailty, further increasing vulnerability to future adverse events. Figure adapted from www.pathclinic.ca.