A Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is a structured, multidisciplinary process that evaluates an older person’s medical, psychological, functional, and social well-being. ✨ The goal is to design an integrated, personalised care plan that promotes independence, dignity, and quality of life.

🗝️ Key Components of CGA

🩺 Medical Assessment
- 📖 Full review of acute & chronic illnesses (diabetes, hypertension, arthritis).
- 💊 Medication review → polypharmacy, drug interactions, adherence issues.
- 🥗 Nutrition & hydration → malnutrition, sarcopenia, vitamin deficiencies.
- ⚠️ Screen for frailty syndromes → delirium, falls, incontinence, sensory loss.
🏃 Functional Assessment
- 🧼 ADLs (Activities of Daily Living): bathing, dressing, eating, toileting.
- 🛒 IADLs (Instrumental ADLs): shopping, finances, medication management.
- 🚶 Mobility & gait → fall risk assessment, walking aids, balance tests (e.g. Timed Up & Go).
🧠 Cognitive & Psychological Assessment
- 🧩 Cognitive screening: AMTS, MoCA, MMSE.
- 🙂 Mood assessment: depression/anxiety screening (e.g. Geriatric Depression Scale).
- 🔔 Behavioural symptoms in dementia → agitation, hallucinations.
👪 Social Assessment
- 🤝 Support networks: family, carers, community resources.
- 🏠 Living arrangements: safety, accessibility, isolation risk.
- 💷 Financial challenges → medication costs, benefits, safeguarding.
🏡 Environmental Assessment
- 💡 Home safety: lighting, stairs, trip hazards, bathroom access.
- 🚌 Transport & access to healthcare, social clubs, day centres.
📜 Advance Care Planning
- 🎯 Define goals of care, patient values & preferences.
- ❤️ Discuss resuscitation status, advance directives, and ReSPECT forms.

🌟 Benefits of CGA

🔎 Improved diagnosis: identifies hidden conditions (memory loss, anaemia, malnutrition).
🧑‍⚕️ Individualised care: treatment tailored to frailty and functional reserve.
🛡️ Prevents deterioration: reduces falls, delirium, deconditioning, and readmissions.
🏥 Fewer hospitalisations: CGA shortens length of stay and improves discharge planning.
💪 Better frailty outcomes: enhances mobility, function, and survival.
😊 Quality of life: holistic care → dignity, comfort, and independence.

👥 Who Benefits Most?

⚡ Frail or pre-frail older adults.
💊 Patients with multiple chronic diseases and polypharmacy.
🧠 People with dementia, delirium, or cognitive impairment.
🚨 Those with recent decline (falls, weight loss, hospital admission).

🤝 The Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)

👨‍⚕️ Geriatrician: leads assessment, manages complex comorbidities.
👩‍⚕️ Nurses: daily care, wound management, medication education.
🏃 Physiotherapists: mobility, balance, fall prevention, rehab.
🛋️ Occupational Therapists (OT): ADL training, home adaptations, equipment.
🧾 Social Workers: benefits, care packages, safeguarding concerns.
🧠 Psychologist / Psychiatrist: cognitive testing, mood disorders, behavioural support.
🥗 Dietitians: malnutrition, diabetes, supplements, feeding support.
🗣️ Speech & Language Therapists (SALT): swallowing, communication aids.

🌍 Take-home message: CGA is not a one-off test but a dynamic, collaborative process. It transforms complex problems into a clear, shared care plan that empowers patients, supports families, and reduces system strain.

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Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA)

🗝️ Key Components of CGA

🌟 Benefits of CGA

👥 Who Benefits Most?

🤝 The Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)

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