Conducting a geriatric functional assessment. Specifically conduct a brief health history and use the following two tools (found in your textbook) on “clients” your instructor provides.
- Katz Activities of Daily Living
- Geriatric Depression Scale (Short Form)
At the end of the geriatric functional assessment you will be asked to document your findings.
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Introduction:
In this assignment, you will be conducting a geriatric functional assessment using the Katz Activities of Daily Living and the Geriatric Depression Scale (Short Form) on “clients” provided by your instructor. This assessment will require you to conduct a brief health history and document your findings.
Answer:
To conduct the geriatric functional assessment, begin by introducing yourself to the client and explaining the purpose of the assessment. Obtain their consent to conduct the examination.
Next, conduct a brief health history to gather information about the client’s medical history, medications, allergies, and any recent hospitalizations. Ask the client about any changes in their cognitive or emotional state, and whether they have experienced any falls or injuries.
Use the Katz Activities of Daily Living tool to assess the client’s ability to perform basic activities such as bathing, dressing, using the toilet, transferring, continence, and feeding. Score each activity by indicating whether the client requires assistance, is dependent, or is independent in performing the task.
Use the Geriatric Depression Scale (Short Form) to assess the client’s mood and level of depression. Ask the client to respond to 15 questions concerning their feelings, moods, and activities. Assign scores to each response and calculate a total score. Score ranges from 0-4, with higher scores indicating a higher level of depression.
Document your findings in a comprehensive report. Include the client’s demographics, medical history, Katz scores, Geriatric Depression Scale score, and any other observations made during the assessment. Use this report to provide feedback to the client on their functional abilities and make recommendations for any further evaluations or interventions that may be needed.
