[Limited geriatric assessment of the elderly in Kibbutzim of the Upper Galilee].

Background: Since comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is very time and money consuming, its implementation is limited in Israel.

Objective: Implementation of the ambulatory limited geriatric assessment (LGA).

Target Population: Persons over 65 years of age living in Kibbutzim in the Upper Galilee.

Methods: As in the case of CGA, the emphasis in LGA is mainly placed on the functional status of the elderly. In order to identify geriatric syndromes, we used routine screening methods. According to the agreement with Clalit Health Services, a geriatrician is allowed to spend one hour per person. The elderly to be checked were selected by the medical staff. At the time of LGA, medical staff and patients' relatives supplied all information needed, including this data in computerized ambulatory cards. In such a way, a considerable amount of medical, functional, epidemiological, and psychosocial information was retrieved thus enabling a geriatrician to elaborate individual programs of follow-up and treatment. A geriatrician could request additional consultations and analyses. Two years later the medical staff in the kibbutzim completed anonymous questionnaires referring to the remote results of LGA.

Results: A total of 121 elderly persons were included in the LGA, performed during the period 2001-2003. The main causes of patients' referral to LGA were the known geriatric syndromes, namely functional and cognitive decline, anxiety and depression, falls etc. We assessed: (1) epidemiological data: age, gender, familial state, education, number of children, place of residence, (2) clinical data: number of both geriatric syndromes and drugs, recent changes in weight, hearing, and vision, (3) functional status: activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), falls, risk of self-inflicted injury, work, hobbies, social activity, the need for familial and social support, (4) cognitive and psychosocial status including depressive symptoms and anxiety, sleep disturbances, casualties in families or among friends, changes in mood and fears. After conducting the LGA, we recommended changes in the drug treatment, nursing, rehabilitation, institutionalization, and social help, if needed. Analysis of anonymous questionnaires showed that both medical staff and elderly in kibbutzim were satisfied with LGA implemented at the old persons' residence, they noted availability and high professional levels of LGA, additionally, they reported on the successful implementation of recommendations. The method became routine in the Upper Galilee.

Conclusion: Since CGA is a very time- and money-consuming procedure, LGA has been tested and appears to be effective in the identification of geriatric syndromes. Within one hour of assessment, a geriatrician could retrieve a lot of the relevant information that allowed him to build individual programs for follow-up, prophylactic measures, drug and rehabilitation treatment and institutionalization.