Barthel Index Calculator / Frailty
Frailty Index Calculator for Elderly
Check for frailty with the five-question FRAIL scale.
Your result
Enter your numbers and press the button. Your result appears here.
How the FRAIL scale works
Five yes-or-no questions cover fatigue, strength, walking, illness and weight loss.
Score 0 = robust · 1–2 = pre-frail · 3–5 = frail
Frailty is common after 80 but is not inevitable; exercise and nutrition can improve it.
Older adults
Even at 85, the average US woman can expect about 7 more years and the average man nearly 6.
Norms by age
Usual walking speed in a large meta-analysis averaged 1.34 m/s for men and 1.24 m/s for women in their 60s, and 0.97 and 0.94 m/s from 80 (Bohannon 2011).
Frailty scores
| Tool | Robust | Pre-frail | Frail |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRAIL scale | 0 | 1–2 | 3–5 |
| Frailty index | ≤ 0.08 | 0.08–0.25 | > 0.25 |
Common questions
Can frailty be reversed?
Often, partly. Strength exercise, enough protein and treating underlying conditions help.
Should I talk to a doctor?
Yes, if the result worries you or if you have new symptoms. These tools support, but do not replace, a clinical assessment.
Sources
- US Social Security Administration. Actuarial life table, 2022 period life table (2025 Trustees Report).
- Levine ME et al. An epigenetic biomarker of aging for lifespan and healthspan. Aging 2018;10:573–591; Liu Z et al. PLoS Med 2018;15:e1002718 (and correction).
- Morris JF, Temple W. Spirometric "lung age" estimation for motivating smoking cessation. Prev Med 1985;14:655–662. Quanjer PH et al. ECSC lung volumes and forced ventilatory flows. Eur Respir J 1993;6 Suppl 16:5–40.
- CDC. STEADI: Stay Independent brochure. Morse JM et al. A prospective study to identify the fall-prone patient. Soc Sci Med 1989;28:81–86.
- Bohannon RW, Andrews AW. Normal walking speed: a descriptive meta-analysis. Physiotherapy 2011;97:182–189. Studenski S et al. Gait speed and survival in older adults. JAMA 2011;305:50–58.
- Mahoney FI, Barthel DW. Functional evaluation: the Barthel Index. Md State Med J 1965;14:61–65. Shah S et al. J Clin Epidemiol 1989;42:703–709.
- Morley JE et al. A simple frailty questionnaire (FRAIL). J Nutr Health Aging 2012;16:601–608. Searle SD et al. A standard procedure for creating a frailty index. BMC Geriatr 2008;8:24.
- Kivipelto M et al. Risk score for the prediction of dementia risk in 20 years among middle aged people. Lancet Neurol 2006;5:735–741. Tombaugh TN, McIntyre NJ. J Am Geriatr Soc 1992;40:922–935.