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Practical functional assessment of elderly persons: a primary-care approach
K C Fleming1, J M Evans, D C Weber
1Section of Geriatrics, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings
|September 1, 1995
Summary
Simple functional assessment tools can help primary care physicians detect problems in elderly patients. These practical measures enhance the comprehensive care of older adults by identifying physical and psychosocial deficits.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Primary Care
- Functional Assessment
Background:
- Elderly patients require comprehensive functional reviews.
- Clinical judgment alone may miss deficits in older adults.
- Standard geriatric assessment tools are often impractical for primary care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present simple, practical measures for assessing elderly patients.
- To detect physical and psychosocial problems in older adults.
- To enhance the care of the geriatric population.
Main Methods:
- Review of geriatric medicine literature and textbooks.
- Summarization of useful findings for functional assessment.
- Presentation of practical tools for geriatric functional assessment.
Main Results:
- Simplified tools like Functional Reach Test and "Get Up and Go" Test are efficient.
- Methods for assessing functional impairments, cognition, mood, vision, hearing, continence, nutrition, and social needs are described.
- Instruments for caregiver burden assessment are outlined.
Conclusions:
- The presented assessment tools aid primary care physicians.
- Facilitates comprehensive evaluation of older patients' function.
- Improves detection and management of geriatric health issues.