The Geriatric Assessment Clinic began seeing patients at the Pender Community Hospital on May 21, 2008. Health issues facing the elderly can be very complex and puzzling. The elderly often suffer from more than one medical problem and have conditions that can be obscured by unusual symptoms. These conditions need to be evaluated and a plan developed to improve their status. To assist the elderly in their goal of optimal health a geriatric assessment is done. A geriatric assessment is a comprehensive evaluation designed to optimize an older person's ability to enjoy good health, improve their overall quality of life, reduce the need for hospitalization and/or institutionalization, and enable them to live independently for as long as possible.

An assessment consists of the following steps:

1. An examination of the older person's current status in terms of:
   
   • Their physical, mental, and psycho-social health
     
   • Their ability to function well and to independently perform the basic activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing meal preparation, medication management, etc.
     
   • Their living arrangements, their social network, and their access to support services.
   
   
2. An identification of current problems or anticipated future problems in any of these areas.
   
3. The development of a comprehensive "Care Plan" which addresses all problems identified, suggests specific interventions or actions required, and makes specific recommendations regarding resources needed to provide the necessary support services.
   
4. The management of a successful linkage between these resources and the older person and that person's family so that provision of the necessary services is assured.
   
5. An ongoing monitoring of the extent to which this linkage has, or has not, addressed the problems identified, and the modification of the "Care Plan" as needed.
   

Those benefiting from a geriatric assessment would be:

• Elderly suffering from multiple chronic illness
  
• Episodes of dizziness or falling
  
• Those suffering from depression or loneliness
  
• Problems with memory loss
  
• Mental Health Issues
  
• Individuals requiring End-of-Life Care
  
• Issues with Pain Management
  
• Problems with Wandering
  
• Elders that are unable to function independently
  
• When help is needed to determine the proper living situation whether they can live independently, in assisted living or require nursing home care
  

The Pender Community Hospital Geriatric Team consists of Matt Timm. M.D., Carrol Baier RN BS PS, Jill Belt LMHP CSW and Physical Therapists John Miller and Alyson Finley PT DPT. The patient is evaluated by each team member and an assessment is completed. The information gathered is discussed at the Team Meeting and a Care Plan is developed for the patient. Dr. Timm finalizes the assessment and a complete report is given to the patient, their family and their attending physician.

For further information contact Carrol Baier RN BS PS Clinical Educator at the Pender Community Hospital, 402-385-4092.