Everyday Ageism: CHRISTA D’SOUZA  blasts the new Electronic Frailty Index

Everyday Ageism: CHRISTA D’SOUZA blasts the new Electronic Frailty Index, as she reveals the term ‘frail’ makes her feel ‘about 100’

  • Electronic Frailty Index will be applied to medical records of anyone 65 and over
  • Christa D’Souza says the index will help GPs troubleshoot future problems 
  • However, she disagrees with being deemed ‘frail’ as it makes her feel about 100


It’s the last tolerated prejudice. But Femail’s had enough. It’s time we called out those day-to-day moments when we’re patronised for no longer being young…

Are you 65 or over? Are you active as anything and have friends commenting all the time on how young you seem for your age? Well, don’t get too cocky. For the NHS in all its wisdom may beg to differ.

You may be, according to a new Electronic Frailty Index applied to the medical records of anyone 65 and over, well just that, officially deemed as ‘frail’.

Christa D’Souza (pictured) argues the Electronic Frailty Index should be called something else because being deemed ‘frail’ makes her feel about 100

The point, and I suppose they do have a point, is that the index will help GPs trouble-shoot future problems such as bone fractures and reactions to certain medicines.

But the bar has been set awfully low. If you are one of the millions upon millions of perfectly healthy people who have ever been diagnosed with asthma, for example, you will probably be classified as ‘moderately frail’, that is, likely to ‘have difficulties doing outdoor activities, problems with mobility and need help with tasks like washing and dressing.’

I mean, come on, guys! We know you care, but we’re not living in the 19th century. Being described as ‘frail’ automatically makes me feel about 100. Let’s call it something else. How about the Electronic Spry Index?