General approach to EM geriatrics: Difference between revisions
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4 Basic Assessments. | 4 Basic Assessments. | ||
*Medical | |||
Cognitive | *Cognitive | ||
Functional | *Functional | ||
Social | *Social | ||
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*Common acute illness presents atypically - generalize weakness = MI or Hyponatremia | *Common acute illness presents atypically - generalize weakness = MI or Hyponatremia | ||
*Vital signs often normal in illness | *Vital signs often normal in illness | ||
Revision as of 22:04, 25 January 2013
Background
Generalized Approach to the Geriatric patient.
4 Basic Assessments.
- Medical
- Cognitive
- Functional
- Social
Medical
- Common acute illness presents atypically - generalize weakness = MI or Hyponatremia
- Vital signs often normal in illness
- Labratory studies often nornmal
- Often consider polypharmacy
Cognitive
- assess memory and orientation; compare to baseline
- evaluate for deliruim
- important for assessing reliability of history and remembering dispo instructions
Functional
- Up to 3/4 of older patients present with chief complaint of functional decline
- ask about SOB during episodes
- Basic ADLs
- walking, transferring, dressing, toileting
- get up and go test:ability to rise, ambulate 10 ft, turn around, and sit back down
- Instumental ADLs
- finances, taking medications, meal prep, driving
- Patients must be able to transfer and ambulate at a minimum to consider d/c by self
Social
- Supports
- who live with, family in town, anyone helps out?
- Living environment
- steps, hallways wide enough for walker, how far bathroom/kitchen from bedroom