Assessing Older Persons: Measures, Meaning, and Practical Applications

This book describes the multidimensional assessment of older persons, offering unique insights into the state of this art. It combines comprehensive reviews of the most widely used instruments for measuring a variety of domains (such as physiological status, cognition, affect, social function, quality of life, physical environment, and caregiver burden) with an exploration of the viriety of uses to which these assessments have been put. It shows how assessment is used in various aspects of practice, including comprehensive geriatric assessment, care planning, case management, and mandated assessments. It also contains a chapter on how to collect data from persons who cannot communicate. The aim throughout is to combine information on specific measures with insight into how and when each measure should be used. The book is designed to serve as both a resource for those working actively in the field and an introduction for those who are not familiar with assessment in a given area.

Rosalie A. Kane, both in the Division of Health Services Research and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota.