Care of the frail elder: the nexus of geriatrics and palliative care.

The number of frail elderly individuals living in the United States is expected to increase. Frail patients tend to suffer from a number of chronic symptoms including pain, weakness and depression, and frailty is associated with dependence on others and increased mortality. Thus, palliative care is often appropriate for these individuals. This article describes frailty among the elderly, how frail patients might benefit from palliative care and several community-based programs that can improve the quality of life for home-bound frail elders.