Comprehensive geriatric assessment in clinical nursing practice

Current literature defines comprehensive geriatric assessment as a multi-dimensional, multi-disciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic process aimed at determining medical, psychological and functional capacities of an elderly person and developing a coordinated and integrated treatment and care plan. The aim of the study is to determine the functional capacity of the elderly.

The study was conducted in a group of 264 elderly people in the Lublin Province of eastern Poland. The seniors were aged 65-92 years, mean age - 74.4 years. The Nurses' Observation Scale for Geriatric Patients (NOSGER) was used in the study.

The seniors' functional performance score with the NOSGER scale for the entire group was at the mean of 57.56 points. The largest deficits in the seniors were recorded in the area of social behaviour (12.27 points), in instrumental activities of daily living (11.70 points), and in the area of moods and emotions (10.07 points). Activities of daily living were assessed at the mean level of 8.50 points. Disruptive behaviours (7.63 points). The memory area (7.73 points) were rated at a similar levels.

The study group of seniors was characterised by fairly good functional performance. Greatest deficits were found in the area of social relations and instrumental activities of daily living. Variables, such as marital status and place of residence, significantly differentiated the degree of fitness in the elderly.