How to assess patients in the six key domains of a comprehensive geriatric assessment

Comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGAs) are considered the cornerstone of modern geriatric medicine. A CGA is a holistic and person-centred process involving the assessment of an older person's health and care needs, formulation of a care plan to address those needs, implementation of the care plan, and regular review of the person's progress. It is designed to help manage complex care needs and improve overall health and well-being. Older people's nurses will inevitably be involved in conducting or coordinating CGAs as part of the multidisciplinary team (MDT). • A CGA encompasses six key domains: physical, psychological, functional, social, environmental and future wishes. • A CGA usually involves more than one professional or team, so meticulous documentation of findings and efficient communication within the MDT are particularly important. • CGAs are crucial in the management of frailty for identifying and addressing the risk of falls, reduced mobility, confusion and incontinence. REFLECTIVE ACTIVITY: 'How to' articles can help to update your practice and ensure it remains evidence based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of: • How this article might improve your practice when assessing older people in the six key domains of a CGA. • How you could use this information to educate nursing students or your colleagues on the appropriate procedures and tools for assessing older people in the six key domains of a CGA.