Geriatric syndromes and geriatric assessment for the generalist

Med Clin North Am. 2015 Mar;99(2):263-79. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2014.11.003. Epub 2015 Jan 10.

Abstract

Geriatric assessment is an increasingly important area of outpatient medicine, given the unprecedented aging of the US population. Screening and evaluation for geriatric syndromes, particularly falls, urinary incontinence, frailty, and cognitive impairment, are crucial aspects of outpatient geriatric assessment. Innovative models of care are emerging to improve quality of care and enhance cost savings for the geriatric patient. High-value features of geriatric care systems include providing increased 24/7 access to care, a multidisciplinary team-based approach to care, performing medication reconciliation and comprehensive geriatric assessments, and integrating palliative care into treatment planning.

Keywords: Care delivery systems; Frailty; Geriatric assessment; Geriatric syndromes; Primary care.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / prevention & control
  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Aged
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Forecasting
  • Frail Elderly
  • General Practice / methods*
  • General Practice / organization & administration
  • Geriatric Assessment / methods*
  • Health Services Accessibility / organization & administration
  • Humans
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Models, Organizational
  • Palliative Care / organization & administration
  • Patient Care Team / organization & administration
  • Planning Techniques
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / organization & administration*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / trends
  • Primary Health Care / methods*
  • Primary Health Care / organization & administration
  • Quality of Health Care / organization & administration*
  • Syndrome
  • Urinary Incontinence / diagnosis