The concept and need of comprehensive geriatric assessment

ABSTRACT

Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is a diagnostic process evaluating frail older patient's medical problems and functional status to make overall plan for treatment and long-term care plan. It emphasizes on functional status and quality of life and uses interdisciplinary team and assessment tool frequently. CGA is associated with significant benefit in improved diagnostic accuracy with increased survival, improved physical and cognitive function, appropriate medication use, reduced hospital and nursing home use and reduced health care costs. Although frailty patients might have greatest benefits, careful periodic screening and follow up monitoring of all older persons is also very important. The goal of CGA in the older patients might be independence. To improve the quality of life of frail old patients and to reduce long-term care population number and care costs, performing geriatric assessment would be the best choice in geriatric field.