
A. What is frailty?
Frailty is a syndrome of geriatric diseases in which the balance of the body is disturbed, leading to a decline in health and functional status. This, in turn, reduces physical activity and affects quality of life. The clinical manifestations of frailty include weight loss, difficulty in performing daily activities, insufficient physical activity, slower walking speed, and reduced grip strength.
The following three questions provide self-examination: if you answer "yes" to one question, you are "pre-frailty"; if you answer "yes" to two questions, you are frailty.











1. Vitamin D Intake:To maintain normal calcium metabolism, a daily supplement of 600 IU (approx. 15 mcg) is recommended. Vitamin D can be obtained from two primary sources:Animal Sources (Vitamin D3): Such as salmon, mackerel, milk, and egg yolks.Plant Sources (Vitamin D2): Such as dried shiitake mushrooms or dried wood ear mushrooms.
2. Protein Intake:To increase muscle mass, daily protein intake should be adjusted based on health status:General Healthy Seniors: 0.8 to 1.2 g per kg of body weight. Malnourished Individuals: 1.2 to 1.5 g per kg of body weight. Patients with Renal Failure: 0.8 to 1 g per kg of body weight.Food Source Examples:One serving of Beans, Fish, Eggs, or Meat: Contains 7 g of protein.One serving of Dairy: Contains 8 g of protein.

B. In conclusion:
In 2018, Taiwan officially entered the ageing society, and it is crucial that we strive to reduce disability among the elderly. Therefore, if frailty can be detected early, disability can be prevented by dietary adjustments, exercise, and lifestyle changes. This reduces the amount of time spent bedridden in old age, with the expectation that the elderly will not only live longer lives but also experience good health and quality of life.
C. References:
王芷郁、陳品汎(2023)・高齡要勇健~動起來・中華民國糖尿病衛教學會會訊,19(1),38-40・https://www.airitilibrary.com/Article/Detail?DocID=P20141022001-N202304120015-00011
胡昱勝、李逸軒、羅玉岱、楊登棋、賴佩君、游詠晨、蘇睿寧、張雅燕、林威宏(2024)・高齡衰弱臨床照護指引回顧與應用・內科學誌,35(6),431-439・https://doi.org/10.6314/JIMT.202412_35(6).05
張景泓(2023)・老年糖尿病之衰弱與肌少症營養照護・中華民國糖尿病衛教學會會訊,19(1),23-29・https://www.airitilibrary.com/Article/Detail?DocID=P20141022001-N202304120015-00008
陳彥憓、陳淑卿(2025)・住院病人出院準備度臨床評估與護理處置・長庚護理,36(2),14-26・https://doi.org/10.6386/CGN.202506_36(2).0002
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