A geriatric assessment is a tool used to help family caregivers gain a better understanding and obtain a comprehensive overview of an older adult’s physical, mental, social, and environmental situation. Most family members will ask themselves at some point during their caregiving if it is important to have their parent or loved one receive a geriatric assessment.  Because older adults can be at risk for experiencing multiple health issues, social and psychological issues at the same time a geriatric assessment can help determine how to proceed with care.   ElderCare Specialists are able to help you understand your loved one’s general health, establish his or her ability to remain independent, and help your family get through crisis situations that may arise.  ElderCare Specialists help plan and address concerns appropriately, and help link you with resources in the community.  Families often seek an assessment to assist with making difficult decisions about the future for their loved one.

ElderCare Specialists are able to complete an assessment in the older person’s home.  An assessment usually starts with the family providing the ElderCare Specialist basic information about their loved one, with past medical history, and any other information of importance. Then the older person is evaluated in their current living situation to ensure their safety and their ability to function independently.   During this time different areas are looked at, such as Activities of Daily Living (bathing, transferring, and mobility) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, (household tasks, paying bills, shopping).  Other areas explored are nutrition, medication, safety, and condition of the home or apartment.  Recommendations are then provided to the family on ways to help keep their loved one safe and independent.   Geriatric assessments are beneficial because they provide the family with an outside view of their aging parent from a professional standpoint.

Another important aspect that an ElderCare specialist looks at and evaluates is the older adult’s social network.  As a person ages their social network often gets smaller.  Family, friends, and those who are able to be supportive and provide care are harder to find and rely on for assistance.  As they age, older adults tend to rely on a small group or people to help them in their later years.

Geriatric Assessments can also be completed at various Universities or Medical Centers that have a Geriatric Department.  Often these assessments are developed for those seniors with some form of memory impairment.  This level of assessment generally involves a team of geriatric specialists that consist of doctors, nurses, social workers, and therapists that administer different clinical tests on memory, vision, hearing, mobility and then recommendations are made to the family.  The benefits of this is that the team of specialists look at those older adults who are experiencing memory problems and whom suffer a complex array of physical problems to get a good underlying cause of their overall medical condition.

To learn more about Geriatric Assessments and how St. Andrew’s Caring Workplace can assist you with providing a geriatric assessment or information about options in the community for your loved one, please contact your ElderCare Specialist Heather O’Brien at 314-802-5106 or hobrien@standrews1.com.