Parameters commonly included in geriatric assessments
Parameter . | Assessment/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) |
Parameter . | Assessment/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) |