The elderly population (age >65 years) is increasing throughout the world, leading to increased hospitalization. There was a 16.7% increase in elderly hospitalization from 2003-2009 in the United States. This rising hospitalization has impacted healthcare services delivery. With the aging population comes a multitude of chronic conditions. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 Americans have at least one chronic condition by age 80.
Due to multiple comorbidities and frailty, the elderly are at increased risk of adverse outcomes with each clinical insult. Besides the common comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension, older patients can present with atypical presentation too. For example, a patient with sepsis may present without fever, or a patient with Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) may present with confusion. The elderly population varies in cognitive, physical, and social functioning and thus requires different levels of care based on individual needs and functional status.
Geriatric assessment, thus, includes a coordinated approach for the physical, functional, and psychosocial assessment of the elderly and formulate an integrated plan of care.
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