Geriatric Assessment Services

Aging brings with it a host of challenges—from the medical to the financial to the emotional. Our Geriatric Assessment Services are designed to proactively screen, treat and optimize the care of at-risk frail elderly to prolong their independence and enhance their quality of life.

The at-risk frail elderly we serve include but are not limited to patients with changes in mental status, affective and/or functional problems with potential for iatrogenic complications, significant caregiver issues and/or level of care needs.

Services are available to GRIPA-affiliated physician practices with patients who are 75 years or older and identified as medically complex and/or with at least one of the following:

• memory deficits
• falls
• incontinence
• depression
• anxiety
• malnutrition
  
  

Your elderly patients face unique challenges. Contact us to learn more about the ways we can help.

Our goals for your older patients

• Increase family/ caregiver knowledge and understanding of care and linkage to community and health plan resources
• Maximize the patient’s independent function in the home or community
• Enhance identification and education of underlying Geriatric Syndromes that may put the patient at risk for an acute event
• Decrease iatrogenic complications

Many disciplines in collaboration

We use a multidisciplinary team approach, working collaboratively with the primary care physician to promote diagnostic and consultative evaluations. The program is tailored to the physician practice needs.

Our team includes a geriatric nurse, geriatric clinical pharmacist and geriatric social worker. A board-certified geriatrician is available for consultation as needed.

The team provides a comprehensive assessment for geriatric syndrome/issues that may pose safety problems or barriers to medical compliance.

This includes:

• Evaluation of appropriateness of each medication and potential for drug interaction or adverse side effects
• Cognitive screening to identify problems with executive functioning and assess for functional, gait and balance issues
• Assessment of caregiver issues and level of care needs