Prepared with AI assistance from the sources listed below. It has not been individually reviewed by a physician and does not replace a consultation.

A review of the person as a whole

A comprehensive geriatric assessment, often shortened to CGA, brings several aspects of an older person’s health into one care plan. The discussion connects medical conditions with daily activities, medicines, psychological wellbeing and the support available at home. Its purpose is to understand what is affecting the person and agree on priorities for care.

CGA is a process rather than a single test. It may begin at a consultation and continue through further assessment, referrals and follow-up. The British Geriatrics Society describes this sequence as assessment followed by a coordinated plan, action and reassessment. The exact arrangement depends on the person’s needs and the services available. [1]

Your concerns and everyday life come first

The clinical team needs to hear what has changed and what matters to you. Difficulties that sound separate can become clearer when considered together. For example, a concern about walking may also lead to a discussion about confidence, the home environment and available help. Your own account remains central, with contributions from a family member or caregiver when appropriate.

Assessment can cover physical health, function, mood or thinking, social circumstances and medicines. Different professionals may contribute where needed. It is reasonable to ask which parts will be covered at the current visit and which will require another appointment. A comprehensive approach does not mean that every specialist must be seen on the same day. [2]

Medicine use is part of the assessment

A medication review considers the complete picture of what you take, why you take it and how it fits your present health. Include prescriptions from different doctors, non-prescription products, vitamins and herbal preparations. Explain how you actually use them, including missed doses, medicines taken only sometimes and any difficulty swallowing tablets or using devices.

The review can explore possible unwanted effects, interactions and whether treatment still matches your priorities. Taking several medicines is not automatically inappropriate, and a review does not automatically mean stopping them. Sometimes the issue is how a medicine is taken or whether it is helping with an important symptom. Any change should be agreed with the prescribing clinician; do not stop or adjust treatment on your own because you have read an article. [3]

Assessment should lead to an individual plan

The useful outcome is a plan that makes sense in your life. A discussion about test results or diagnoses should connect with the activities and concerns that matter to you. Ask what the immediate priorities are, which options are available, and what support you would need to follow the plan.

WHO’s integrated-care guidance for older people emphasizes recognizing changes in capacity, understanding social and support needs, and developing care that can be adapted to the local setting. That framework helps explain why the same list of actions is unlikely to suit every older adult. Your circumstances, preferences and available support are relevant to deciding what happens next. [4]

Agree on practical goals and responsibilities

Care planning works best as a conversation. A goal might concern an everyday activity you want to keep doing or a difficulty you particularly want help with. The team can then discuss which actions relate to that goal and who will help carry them out.

Ask for a record you can understand and refer to later. It should be clear what you and your family have agreed to do, what the professionals will arrange, and when progress will be discussed. Also ask who to contact if the plan is not working or your situation changes. Care and support planning continues over time; it is not complete simply because a document has been produced. [5]

Make room for questions and follow-up

Before leaving, use your own words to check your understanding of the main priorities. You can ask: What happens first? What information is still needed? Who will contact me about the next step? If a recommendation seems difficult to follow, explain the difficulty so it can be discussed.

An assessment can identify issues that need attention, but it cannot promise a particular outcome or predict every future illness. If you are acutely unwell or experience a sudden major deterioration, seek prompt medical assessment rather than waiting for a planned senior-care review. At a routine consultation, the aim is a shared understanding of the person’s current needs and a practical way to review progress.

Key takeaways

  • A comprehensive assessment connects medical health, daily function, medicines, wellbeing and support.
  • Bring a complete account of medicine use, including non-prescription products, and discuss changes with your clinician.
  • Ask how the proposed actions relate to your own goals and circumstances.
  • Clarify responsibilities, follow-up and whom to contact if your situation changes.

Sources and further reading

  1. CGA in Primary Care Settings: Introduction — British Geriatrics Society
  2. The elements of the CGA process — British Geriatrics Society
  3. CGA in Primary Care Settings: Medication review — British Geriatrics Society
  4. Integrated care for older people: person-centred assessment and pathways in primary care, second edition — World Health Organization
  5. CGA in Primary Care Settings: Care and support planning — British Geriatrics Society

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