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Frailty care guides | Ngā aratohu maimoa hauwarea (2023 edition)

18th December, 2023

Cover of the Frailty care guides | Ngā aratohu maimoa hauwarea (2023 edition). At the top are two black logos on white, one being the New Zealand Government logo and the other being the Te Tāhū Hauora logo. A dark blue paintbrush swoosh runs across the middle of the image with the document title on it in white text. At the bottom left is a green and blue tohu (Māori pattern) and on the right the date 2023 in dark blue on white.
As the aged population of Aotearoa New Zealand increases, the recognition and treatment of frailty has become crucial to all health care environments. Frailty is a recognised clinical syndrome that requires specialised assessment and interventions.

Below you can view the 2023 edition of Frailty care guides | Ngā aratohu maimoa hauwarea. This evidence update was led by Julie Daltrey and Patumahoe Leaf-Wright on behalf of Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality & Safety Commission. 

The 2023 edition includes mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and cultural concepts relevant to caring for kaumātua (Māori elders) along with audio links for correct pronunciation of key te reo Māori kupu (words).

The guides are focused on the aged residential care environment; however, they may be helpful in other health care settings serving older people living with frailty. They are designed for use by health care professionals, and they support and do not replace clinical judgement. 

They can be used to support communication and care planning with the older person and their whānau/family and health care team.

You can download a full set of the guides, or individual guides by topic, below.


Hard copies are available for purchasing from Wakefield Print; an online order form is available here.


  • Frailty care guides | Ngā aratohu maimoa hauwarea (complete set) (PDF)
  • Foreword | Kupu whakataki (PDF | Web version)

Key concepts | Ariā matua

  • Communicating effectively with older people and their whānau/family | Kia kōrerorero pai ki ngā kaumātua me ō rātou whānau (PDF | Web version)
  • Frailty | Te wairuhi (PDF | Web version)
  • Guide for health professionals caring for kaumātua | Kupu arataki mō te manaaki kaumātu (PDF | Web version)

Legal and ethical | Ture me te matatika

Acute care | Tauwhiro tārūrū 

Clinical care, conditions and management | Ratonga tauwhiro, ngā āhuatanga me te taha whakahaere


Last updated: 18th December, 2023