Frailty in Older Adults Linked to Health Risks and Parkinson's Disease.
Social frailty, a set of vulnerabilities that include a lack of close relationships, inability to rely on others for help, and low activity in community groups, has been linked to poor health outcomes in older adults. Experts are calling for a more complete picture of older adults' circumstances, including social determinants of health, to help clinicians identify socially frail patients and prompt problem-solving to help them cope with various challenges. A social frailty index has been developed to identify older adults who need extra assistance and direct them to community resources. Oak Street Health, a chain of primary care centers for older adults, is trying to address social frailty by regularly screening patients for extra needs and providing individual wellness plans that include social as well as medical priorities.