Health assessment of elderly patients.

BACKGROUND

Comprehensive health assessment of the elderly in primary care will become a more important element of general practice as population aging proceeds and evidence of efficacy emerges.

OBJECTIVE

This article describes approaches to provision of health assessment in primary care based on the best available evidence.

DISCUSSION

Current best practice includes the use of structured health assessment protocols, an integrated multidisciplinary approach, targeting patient groups with intermediate levels of disability and handicap, in-home assessments and carefully structured follow up mechanisms.