Question

Explain in your own words why assessment is critical to patient care in older adults? 6-10 Sentences.

Answer 1

Each individual is unique so as their problems too.The care needs of elderly will change over time sometimes frequently or unexpectedly.

Geriatric assessment should be in such a way that it should go beyond the standard adult comprehensive history taking and physical examination.It should be designed in a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach so as to evaluate the elderly patients functional capacity, physical status, cognition and mental health as well as socioenvironmental circumstances.

The assessment team should include a physician, nutritionists,social worker, physical and occupational therapist.This multidisciplinary approach of assessment AIDS in early diagnosis of any existing disease,developing a treatment plan as well as to plan follow ups to coordinate the management of care and as well as evaluation of long term care needs.

Various domains on which the assessment should focus are functional ability, physical health, screening for diseases,nutrition,vision,hearing,urinary continence,balance and fall prevention, osteoporosis,poly pharmacy and not but the least psycho social status.

Well validated tools and survey instruments should be used for the evaluation of activities.When multiple concerns are presented the use of a "rolling" assessment over several visits should be considered.

Research suggests that geriatric assesment can lead to optimized prescribing,which can thereby reduce the incidence of adverse drug effects,the need for speciality services, diagnostic studies,ER visits as well as improve outcomes.

As this assessment and care goes hand in hand well coordinated,it will be highly effective and also cost effective.