Question

Describe the elements of a comprehensive health assessment of a geriatric patient. What special considerations should the nurse keep in mind while performing this assessment? Please cite all references used.

Answer 1

Ans: The geriatric assessment is a multidimensional, multidisciplinary assessment designed to evaluate an older person's functional ability, physical health, cognition and mental health, and socioenvironmental circumstances. A complete assessment is usually initiated when the physician detects a potential problem such as confusion, falls, immobility, or incontinence. However, older persons often do not present in a typical manner, and atypical responses to illness are common. A patient presenting with confusion may not have a neurologic problem, but rather an infection.

The nursing process addresses the full range of human experiences and responses to health. To become proficient in geriatric assessment, you need to understand the physiologic changes unique to this population, as well as the differences between normal aging-related changes and health alterations caused by illnesses and social changes. Nurse should intervene about the health condition of the patient and also look after them for any need and any symptoms. And also keep check on physical health and response. Blood pressure should be check randomly. Nutrition and diet should be checked because proper nutrition will help the drugs to work and absorbed properly.

Refrences: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4164377/

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0101/p48.html