Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment: Diagnostic, Therapeutic, and Prognostic Value

Statistics on the geriatric population usually pertain to individuals aged 65 years and older. Chronological age, however, especially between ages 65 to 79 years, is a rather crude measure of physiologic aging, with some individuals still being vigorous, active, and independent and others experiencing great physical and psychosocial losses. As a specialty, geriatric medicine best addresses the needs of the latter group of persons, frequently referred to as the "frail elderly." The frail elderly are able to maintain their homeostasis in a nonstressed environment but have a strong inclination to decompensate when faxed with stressors which would not have been as taxing at a younger age. This propensity is due to more limited and easily exhaustible physiologic reserves.