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) |