COMPREHENSIVE GERIATRIC ASSESSMENT - HELPING YOUR ELDERLY PATIENTS MAINTAIN FUNCTIONAL WELL-BEING

CGA provides a comparatively rapid method of coming to grips with the multiple medical and social problems of a frail elderly patient. For p rimary care physicians, the CGA process also provides an inventory for checking these factors that threaten the independence of an elderly p erson and an avenue for understanding how in health affects the person 's life. Ten important areas of function are assessed: mental status, emotional status, communication, mobility, balance, bowel, bladder, nu trition, daily activities, and social situation. The objectivity and p recision of CGA can facilitate the recognition of atypical or nonspeci fic illness that may otherwise be missed. This precision is also helpf ul in enabling physicians to advocate for their frail patients, who ma y not otherwise fit a typical disease model. PGM.