When the Veteran Can’t Speak- But the Frailty Index Does

Frailty and multimorbidity are major determinants of recovery in older Veterans following complex surgeries such as total laryngectomy. In the Community Living Center (CLC), distinguishing postoperative deconditioning from delirium, depression, or physiological instability is often challenging and requires a holistic, interdisciplinary approach. Frailty-informed decision-making helps guide goals of care, medication management, therapy pacing, and meaningful engagement with Veterans who face overlapping medical, functional, and psychosocial vulnerabilities.