Table 1.

Geriatric assessment domains and tools

Geriatric assessment domain	Toolsa	Interventions for positive finding
Functional status	• Self-reported: ○ Activities of daily living ○ Instrumental activities of daily living ○ Falls • Objective tests: ○ Timed up and go test ○ Gait speed ○ Short physical performance battery	1.Mobility and health aids 2.Home safety equipment 3.Promote physical activity 4.Physical therapy and rehabilitation
Comorbidity	•Charlson Comorbidity Index •Cumulative Index Rating Scale-Geriatric •Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27	1.Comorbidity management 2.Referral to a geriatrician or other specialists 3.Clarify goals of care
Social functioning and support	•Medical Outcomes Study survey •RAND-36 Healthcare Survey	1.Consult social work 2.Consult financial services
Cognition	•Blessed Orientation Memory Concentration test •Mini Cog •Mini Mental State Examination •Montreal Cognitive Assessment	1.Counseling 2.Assess inappropriate medications 3.Evaluate decisional capacity 4.Referral to geriatric neuropsychologist
Psychological status	•Distress Thermometer •Geriatric Depression Scale (several versions available) •Mental Health Inventory •Patient Health Questionnaire (several versions available)	1.Cognitive behavioral therapy 2.Non-pharmacological approaches (meditation) 3.Anti-depressants 4.Referral to a geriatric psychiatrist 5.Communicate with primary care team
Nutrition	•Weight loss •Body mass index •Mini Nutritional Assessment •Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool	1.Address factors contributing to malnutrition 2.Address chemotherapy-induced adverse effects like nausea/vomiting 3.Oral care 4.Supplemental nutrition 5.Refer to dietitian
Polypharmacy	•Beers Criteria •Medication Appropriateness Index •STOPP/START criteria	1.Medication reconciliation 2.Evaluate adherence 3.Evaluate drug interactions 4.Deprescribing 5.Home health for medication management

START, Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment; STOPP, Screening Tool of Older Persons’ Prescriptions.

^aAt a minimum, consider one tool from the domains of functional status (instrumental activities of daily living), cognition (Mini Cog or Blessed Orientation Memory Concentration), and psychological status (PHQ-2); assess weight loss, comorbidity, and medications from the medical records; and inquire about source of social support from the patient.