Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

Geriatric assessment includes medical, cognitive, functional, psychological, and social assessments. The traditional medical assessment is often insufficient to completely evaluate older patients, as older patients often have multiple comorbidities including cognitive impairment, polypharmacy, complex psychosocial needs including social determinants of health, and atypical presentation of disease. Geriatric assessment requires a broader multifaceted approach to the care of older adults, with the use of validated screening tools to screen for geriatric syndromes including cognitive impairment, functional status, depression, falls, gait disorder, polypharmacy, hearing impairment, malnutrition, and incontinence. This chapter reviews the specific tools that practitioners can use in their screening for these syndromes, as well as social assessment. This review will help make the provider caring for geriatric patients more adept at their important role.