Table 1.

Parameters commonly included in geriatric assessments

ParameterAssessment/measure (example of screening tools)
Physical function Self-reported (ie, ADLs, IADLs, mobility questions, such as “Can you walk a block or a quarter mile?”) 
Objectively measured (ie, walking speed, Timed Up and Go test, Short Physical Performance Battery [gait speed, balance testing, chair stands], grip strength) 
Cognitive function Cognition screens (ie, Mini-Cog, Blessed Orientation Memory Concentration test, 5-word recall, Montreal Cognitive Assessment is used by geriatricians but is a longer test) 
Capacity assessment 
Comorbidity Total number of conditions 
Comorbidity burden index (ie, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale-Geriatric, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Specific Comorbidity Index) 
Individual conditions (ie, diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) 
Socioeconomic issues Social support (ie, caregivers, transportation) 
Income/financial challenges 
Psychological state Depression (ie, Geriatric Depression Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Mental Health Inventory) 
Distress (ie, Distress Thermometer) 
Anxiety (ie, Mental Health Inventory) 
Geriatric syndromes Delirium (ie, Confusion Assessment Method) 
Falls (ie, single-item screen; “How many falls in the past 6 months?”) 
Failure to thrive 
Polypharmacy Number of medications (≥4 medications is a common cut-point for polypharmacy) 
High-risk medications (ie, Beers criteria) 
Drug interactions (ie, drug-interaction software) 
Nutrition Weight loss (ie, >10% from baseline) 
Body mass index 
Access to nutritional support 
Nutrition screening tool (ie, Mini Nutritional Assessment) 
ParameterAssessment/measure (example of screening tools)
Physical function Self-reported (ie, ADLs, IADLs, mobility questions, such as “Can you walk a block or a quarter mile?”) 
Objectively measured (ie, walking speed, Timed Up and Go test, Short Physical Performance Battery [gait speed, balance testing, chair stands], grip strength) 
Cognitive function Cognition screens (ie, Mini-Cog, Blessed Orientation Memory Concentration test, 5-word recall, Montreal Cognitive Assessment is used by geriatricians but is a longer test) 
Capacity assessment 
Comorbidity Total number of conditions 
Comorbidity burden index (ie, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale-Geriatric, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Specific Comorbidity Index) 
Individual conditions (ie, diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) 
Socioeconomic issues Social support (ie, caregivers, transportation) 
Income/financial challenges 
Psychological state Depression (ie, Geriatric Depression Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Mental Health Inventory) 
Distress (ie, Distress Thermometer) 
Anxiety (ie, Mental Health Inventory) 
Geriatric syndromes Delirium (ie, Confusion Assessment Method) 
Falls (ie, single-item screen; “How many falls in the past 6 months?”) 
Failure to thrive 
Polypharmacy Number of medications (≥4 medications is a common cut-point for polypharmacy) 
High-risk medications (ie, Beers criteria) 
Drug interactions (ie, drug-interaction software) 
Nutrition Weight loss (ie, >10% from baseline) 
Body mass index 
Access to nutritional support 
Nutrition screening tool (ie, Mini Nutritional Assessment) 

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