Editing Surgery (section)

===Elderly people===
Older adults have widely varying physical health.  [[Frailty syndrome|Frail elderly]] people are at significant risk of post-surgical complications and the need for extended care.  Assessment of older people before elective surgery can accurately predict the person's recovery trajectories.<ref name=Frailty>{{cite journal | vauthors = Makary MA, Segev DL, Pronovost PJ, Syin D, Bandeen-Roche K, Patel P, Takenaga R, Devgan L, Holzmueller CG, Tian J, Fried LP | title = Frailty as a predictor of surgical outcomes in older patients | journal = Journal of the American College of Surgeons | volume = 210 | issue = 6 | pages = 901–908 | date = June 2010 | pmid = 20510798 | doi = 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2010.01.028 }}</ref> One frailty scale uses five items:  unintentional weight loss, [[muscle weakness]], exhaustion, low physical activity, and slowed walking speed.  A healthy person scores 0; a very frail person scores 5.  Compared to non-frail elderly people, people with intermediate frailty scores (2 or 3) are twice as likely to have post-surgical complications, spend 50% more time in the hospital, and are three times as likely to be discharged to a skilled nursing facility instead of to their own homes.<ref name=Frailty /> People who are frail and elderly (score of 4 or 5) have even worse outcomes, with the risk of being discharged to a nursing home rising to twenty times the rate for non-frail elderly people.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}