Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Flashcards
What is a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment? How does it differ from a normal patient assessment?
CGA is multi-dimensional and integrates medical, functional, cognitive and psycho-social components. Less disease-centred, can occur over longer time, more people involved.
Who is suitable for a CGA? Is there an age cut-off? What are some factors that suggest a CGA would be useful?
Targeted toward frail elders with risk of adverse events. No set criteria, but consider if: age >75, living alone, cognitive impairment, carer stress, many admission, polypharmacy, multiple comorbidities.
What is frailty? What are some common results of frailty?
No set definiton, consider loss of reserve and narrowing of homeostatic ranges; more vulnerable to minor insults.
Can result in geriatric syndromes: incontinence, falls, intellectual decline, immobility.
Name at least 5 people that are often involved in the CGA of a patient/person.
Medical doctor (geriatrician); nurse; social worker; occupational therapist; physiotherapist; carer/relative.
Name at least 4 sources of information for a CGA.
Patient history, direct observation, carer/relative’s history, medical records, other doctors (usual GP).
What are 10 domains to assess in the history for CGA. (VGMTP checklist)
Cognition, mobility, falls, urinary continence, ADLs, pain, medication, nutrition, living arrangements, legal status.
Name at least 4 functional domains.
Activity/function; mobility; falls risk; transfers; personal ADLs; Domestic ADLs; medical administration.
What is the Barthel index used for? What are some functions it assesses?
Tool to assess self care and mobility in ADLs.
Includes: feeding, bathing, grooming, transfers, continence, mobility etc.
What is the difference between multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary?
Multidisciplinary implies many disciplines having input but working independently with own goals. Inter: working together and collaborating to set goals and program.
What are the outcomes of a GCA? Are GCA’s effective?
Depend on patient but aim for a comprehensive plan to maintain and improve functions across domains.
GCAs shown to improve morbidity and mortality, mostly when used on correct patient groups.
