Gerontology: Assessment and Ethical Concerns Essay

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The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) is another tool frequently used with older adults (Charlson, Pompei, Ales & Mackenzie, 1987). It is comprised of 19 comorbid conditions that give a complete indication of the patient's state of health.

The basic activities of daily living (ADLs) include bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, feeding, communication, visual capability and walking. These functions are assessed through direct examination of the specific activity. Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) are those needed to live an independent life. They include the functional ability to shop, prepare food, clean house, do laundry drive or use public transportation and administer medications. These functions are assessed through house visits and as a cumulative evaluation of general geriatric assessment and psychiatric assessment tools.

Physicians commonly use the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to perform a cognitive and mood assessment respectively (De Vriendt, Gorus, Bautmans & Mets, 2011).

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The MMSE assesses the cognitive domains of orientation, memory, calculation, language and constructional ability through a series of standardized questions.

Ethical considerations that are often associated with elderly patients include informed consent, medical and psychological conditions that may influence the patient's ability to approve of a treatment, and related privacy issues (Martin & Bush, 2008). Further ethical dilemmas may involve surrogate decision making, withdrawing and withholding interventions and the use of advance directives (Mueller, Hook & Fleming, 2004). A physician treating the ever-increasing number of geriatric patients must be aware of these issues in assessing the patient and determining a treatment plan......

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"Gerontology Assessment And Ethical Concerns", 10 December 2011, Accessed.3 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/gerontology-assessment-ethical-concerns-48377