Geriatric patients are not just “elderly adults”; they all come with their own challenges e.g. physical and social aspects. Evaluating the health needs of older patients can strengthen the quality of their lives and would also reduce the rate at which they get hospitalized. There is no certain age set for a geriatric patient but most times, he or she is at least 70 years of age with severe illnesses and physical/cognitive impairment. “The comprehensive geriatric assessment is often described in the literature as a multidisciplinary, time-intensive evaluation of a patient previously identified as being at significant risk for imminent morbidity or mortality”(aafp.org). The information that we (nurses) find from a correct assessment would serve as the basis for age appropriate nursing care.
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Before the assessment begins, gather the health history by questioning the patient or the family members of the patient if need be. The information gathered would help to focus on particular areas during the examination. Some of the major elements of a comprehensive health assessment are as follows:
Demographic data - geriatric practitioners rely heavily on getting objective information. Practitioners sometimes find it difficult to obtain past information especially when it is subject to the insufficient memory of patients with defective cognition or the biased interpretation of people close to the patients.
Social history – the social evaluation covers areas of information starting from a patient’s level of education to their views on terminal care. Many physicians often ask their patients about personal behaviors that may place them at risk of
Before the assessment begins, gather the health history by questioning the patient or the family members of the patient if need be. The information gathered would help to focus on particular areas during the examination. Some of the major elements of a comprehensive health assessment are as follows:
Demographic data - geriatric practitioners rely heavily on getting objective information. Practitioners sometimes find it difficult to obtain past information especially when it is subject to the insufficient memory of patients with defective cognition or the biased interpretation of people close to the patients.
Social history – the social evaluation covers areas of information starting from a patient’s level of education to their views on terminal care. Many physicians often ask their patients about personal behaviors that may place them at risk of