PSYCHOLOGICAL

ASSESSMENT
I. Identifying Data:
II. Health History
III. Life‐Style Patterns
IV. Perceptual Ability
V. Emotional Status
• Self concept
• Ego ideal
• Super Ego
• Respond to situations
• What rules or customs are
difficult for you to follow?
• What do you consider the most
important teachings that were
given to you by your parents or
family?
• Relations to others
• Sense of autonomy
• How has aging or illness or
hospitalization or admission to
nursing home or residence affected
your feelings of control or lack of
control?
• Reaction and coping with
situations
• Adaptive pattern
VI. Use of Leisure
VII. Communication Pattern: (Observe
and listen for)
• Ability to express thoughts and
feelings
• Describes vocabulary
• Pronunciation of words
• Rate of expression of speech
• Ability to express his ideas
VIII. COGNITIVE STATUS
• Level of consciousness
• Orientation to time place, person
• Education level
• Ability to recall far past, immediate past
and present events
• Attention span
• Speed of response to verbal stimuli
• Remains in reverie state or in primary
process
• Ability to grasp ideas to follow
directions.
• Ability to do logical thinking or problem
solving
• Ability to abstract
• Presence of delusions or degree of
reality in belief system.
• Apparent insight into problem or
situation:
• Aware of need for more knowledge
about illness situation:
IX. EGO FUNCTIONS
What was the primary emotion?
Was it appropriate to the
situation? During the interview,
what nonverbal behavior
accompanied statements? What
questions elicited behavioral
manifestations of discomfort or
anxiety?
Summary of
Impressions
A. Intrapersonal Factors:
• Physical
• Psychological
• Developmental
• Social
• Interpersonal
• Extra-personal
B. Recommendations

ATTITUDES TOWARD AGING

-Communicating with an elderly patient

may challenge you to confront your
personal attitudes and prejudices about
aging.
THE NEED FOR PATIENCE

Patience is the key to

communicating with an elderly
patient.Keep your questions
concise, rephrase those he/she
doesn’t understand and use non‐
verbal techniques in a meaningful
way.
 THE ELDERLY PATIENT’S PAST
HISTORY

A geriatric patient’s past medical

history can be extensive. In order
for you to complete the history, it is
important that the patient have a
detailed recall of all major illnesses,
surgical procedures and minor
illnesses.
 GERIATRIC ACTIVITIES OF
DAILY LIVING

• DIET OR ELIMINATION
• EXERCISE/SLEEP
• RECREATION
• TOBACCO/ALCOHOL
• PERSONAL CONCERNS