COMPREHENSIVE GERIATRIC ASSESSMENT - APPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY-RESIDING, ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH MENTAL-RETARDATION DEVELOPMENTAL-DISABILITIES

The effects of using comprehensive geriatric assessment, a recently de veloped approach found to be effective in evaluating elderly patients, was explored with 41 community-based elderly individuals with mental retardation/developmental disabilities to determine whether it would r eveal a greater number of medical, dental, and psychiatric diagnoses w hen compared to their previous medical care. Functional status and med ication usage of these subjects was assessed and described. Statistica lly significant increases in the number of medical and dental diagnose s were found. An increased number of psychiatric diagnoses, though not significant, was also found. Results suggest that comprehensive geria tric assessment is useful in the evaluation of the health care needs o f individuals with mental retardation/developmental disabilities.