Geriatric Screening Tools

(GSTs)
Prepared By:
Fawaz Alotaibi, MS, Pharm.D.
Amal Badawoud, Pharm.D.
Introduction:
Medical

Geriatric
Psychological
Screening Tools

Functional
Introduction:
Improve
functional
status
Improve GSTs improve
quality diagnostic accuracy,
of life medical treatment,
and arrange better for
long-term case
management
Reduce
unnecessary
formal
services
Objectives:
• To help health care professional students at RHWP with foundational
information and resources regarding the Geriatric Screening tools:
1- Mini-Cog
2- Timed Get Up and Go
3- FRAIL Questionnaire
4- Katz ADL assessment
5- Vulnerable Elders Survey-13
6- Geriatric Depression Screnning-15
7- Food and Security Questionnaire
Remember:
• To conduct these screening tools to each new clinic participant at
RHWP upon enrollment (to have a baseline) and approximately
annually thereafter
• To connect the scoring of the GSTs with the treatment plan
• To discuss the positive results with the faculty member during the de-
briefing discussion
Section One

• Cognitive impairment is prevalent among older adults

• Age is one of the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and other types
of dementia
• Mini-Cog is useful tool for individual presenting with memory
concerns or other cognitive complaints
Why Mini-Cog?
• Simple, reliable, and valid
• Quick screening tool to detect any cognitive abnormalities
 3 words
registration and
Mini-Cog recalling
components
Clock Drawing
Mini-Cog
Administration video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=DeCFtuD41WY
Section Two:
Overview (TUG):
• Fall is one of the common cause of injury and functional limitation
among community-dwelling older adults
• 30% of community-dwelling older adults who are 65 years or older
fall each year
• 40% of all injury lead to death and 20-30% of mild to severe soft
tissue injuries and fractures are subsequences of falls
Why TUG:
• TUG is recommended by the American/British Geriatrics Society
Clinical Practice guidelines as a quick routine screening test for falls
• TUG is a reliable test to identify older adults with low and high risk of
falls
• It has been validated in different health care settings and populations
including community-dwelling frail older adults
Administration:

Required materials: chair with arm and stopwatch (timer)

Interpretations:
TUG Administration
Administration video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA7Y_oLElGY
Section Three: FRAIL Questionnaire
YES = 1 NO = 0
Section Four: Katz Index of Independence in
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Assessment
Section Five: Vulnerable Elders Survey-13
Section Six: Geriatric Depression Scale-15
Section Seven: Food Insecurity Questionnaire
Section Seven: Food Insecurity Questionnaire
Score Interpretation
Raw score 0-1 High or marginal food security
Raw score 2-4 Low food security
Raw score 5-6 Very low food security
Summary:
• GST is a multidimensional, interdisciplinary diagnostic process to
determine the medical, psychological, and functional capabilities of older
individuals in order to improve health outcomes
• Most tests are quick, short and easy to administer by any health care
provider and at any settings
• Remember To conduct these screening tools to each new clinic participant
at RHWP upon enrollment (to have a baseline) and approximately annually
thereafter
• Remember To connect the scoring of the GSTs with the treatment plan
• Remember To discuss the positive results with the faculty member during
the de-briefing discussion