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.