Frailty is reduced physiological reserve that makes older people vulnerable to falls, disability, hospital admission and death after minor stressors. The FRAIL scale can be self-reported in a minute and predicts these outcomes.
How to use the Frailty Calculator
- Fatigue: feeling tired most or all of the time in the past 4 weeks
- Resistance: difficulty climbing 10 steps without resting or aids
- Ambulation: difficulty walking 100–200 m without aids
- Illnesses: 5 or more of hypertension, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease, heart attack, heart failure, angina, asthma, arthritis, stroke, kidney disease
- Loss of weight: more than 5% in the past year
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Each answer carries the points shown in the published score. The calculator adds them up and maps the total to the published interpretation.
Scoring table
| Item | Answers and points |
|---|---|
| Fatigue: feeling tired most or all of the time in the past 4 weeks | No = 0; Yes = 1 |
| Resistance: difficulty climbing 10 steps without resting or aids | No = 0; Yes = 1 |
| Ambulation: difficulty walking 100–200 m without aids | No = 0; Yes = 1 |
| Illnesses: 5 or more of hypertension, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease, heart attack, heart failure, angina, asthma, arthritis, stroke, kidney disease | No = 0; Yes = 1 |
| Loss of weight: more than 5% in the past year | No = 0; Yes = 1 |
Tips
- Assess on a typical day, not during an acute illness, unless the tool asks otherwise.
- Involve family or carers who know the person’s usual abilities.
- Repeat assessments regularly to track change.
- Use results to plan support, not to label people.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Scoring what the person could do rather than what they actually do.
- Ignoring hearing or vision problems during cognitive tests.
- Using a single score to decide care without a full assessment.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Fatigue: feeling tired most or all of the time in the past 4 weeks | Choose one: No, Yes |
| Resistance: difficulty climbing 10 steps without resting or aids | Choose one: No, Yes |
| Ambulation: difficulty walking 100–200 m without aids | Choose one: No, Yes |
| Illnesses: 5 or more of hypertension, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease, heart attack, heart failure, angina, asthma, arthritis, stroke, kidney disease | Choose one: No, Yes |
| Loss of weight: more than 5% in the past year | Choose one: No, Yes |
Health note: this calculator is for education and screening only and is not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Discuss your results with a qualified clinician.
Formula
Score = sum of the points for each item
Worked example
Inputs — Fatigue: feeling tired most or all of the time in the past 4 weeks: Yes; Resistance: difficulty climbing 10 steps without resting or aids: No; Ambulation: difficulty walking 100–200 m without aids: No; Illnesses: 5 or more of hypertension, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease, heart attack, heart failure, angina, asthma, arthritis, stroke, kidney disease: No; Loss of weight: more than 5% in the past year: No.
Results — FRAIL score = 1 / 5; Frailty status = Pre-frail.
Key terms
- Frailty
- Reduced reserve and resilience in older age.
Frequently asked questions
Can frailty be reversed?
Often – strength exercise, protein, reviewing medicines and treating illnesses can help.
What is pre-frailty?
One or two FRAIL items; a window for prevention.
What other frailty tools exist?
The Clinical Frailty Scale and the Fried frailty phenotype.