Assessment of the Older Adult

The assessment of older adults is focused on identifying their self-care abilities and helping them achieve an optimal level of functioning. In addition to completing a comprehensive physical examination, you’ll assess their functional, cognitive, environmental, and social status.

Alright, a functional assessment evaluates your patient’s physical mobility and functional independence. Now, before assessing mobility, make sure your patient is wearing appropriate footwear, has their necessary assistive devices, and that you’re standing nearby to prevent falls.

Then, assess your patient’s physical mobility and gait by having them perform the “Timed Up and Go” test, or TUG for short, where you’ll ask them stand up from a seated position, walk ten feet, then return to the chair and sit down. During this time, note their ability to get up from the chair, their balance, gait, and speed, and balance.

Then to assess their functional independence, use your facility's approved tool to evaluate their ability to perform basic activities of daily living, or ADLs like bathing, dressing, feeding, and toileting.

Next, ask them about how they perform more complex tasks, known as instrumental ADLs, or IADLs, like washing their clothes and shopping for groceries. You can also ask them to demonstrate how to use their phone and how they organize their medications.

During a cognitive assessment, you’ll evaluate your patient’s level of cognitive function. Start by reviewing their electronic health record for medications or conditions that can impair cognition, such opioids, antidepressants, or anticonvulsants, or a history of traumatic brain injury. Also assess general indicators of their mental status, such as their grooming, hygiene, and clarity of speech.