10 Playing Our Part - Are The Occupational Therapists Completing A Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment?

• Published in: Age and ageing Vol. 48; no. Supplement_3; pp. iii17 - iii65
• Main Authors: Lavery, Paula, O'Connor, Sinéad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford Publishing Limited (England) 16.09.2019
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Audits; Best practice; Clinical audits; Cognition; Evaluation; Forms; Frailty; Geriatric assessment; Geriatrics; Home environment; Induction; Inpatient care; Interdisciplinary aspects; Literature reviews; Mood; Occupational therapists; Occupational therapy; Older people; Sleep; Teams; Therapists
• ISSN: 0002-0729; 1468-2834
• DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afz103.05

Abstract Background 10% of people over 65 years have frailty, rising to between a quarter and a half of those over 85. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is the gold standard for the management of frailty in older people; it’s a process that involves a holistic, interdisciplinary assessment of the older person. Evidence shows that CGA is effective in improving outcomes for older people. The National Clinical Programme for the Older Person outlines the role of the occupational therapist in CGA. A clinical audit was completed to investigate whether the occupational therapists in the Medicine for the Older Person service are adhering to guidelines for CGA. Methods Following a literature review, a retrospective audit of occupational therapy (OT) initial assessments was completed using paper count method. Data pertinent to CGA OT assessment was collected. Audit results were presented to the OT team alongside a CGA education session. A re-audit was completed, using above methods. Results 10 inpatient initial assessment forms reviewed pre and post audit. Activities of Daily Living Assessment: Pre result: 60%  Post Result: 90% Home Environment: Pre: 80% Post: 100% Performance Components Assessment: Vision: Pre:  90%  Post: 100% Hearing: Pre: 80% Post: 100% Upper Limb: Pre: 70% Post: 100% Mood: Pre: 60% Post: 80% Cognition: Pre: 90% Post: 100% Sleep: Pre: 70% Post: 80% Social Assessment: Pre: 60% Post:90% Falls Assessment: Pre: 60% Post: 90% Drving: Pre: 60% Post: 90% Conclusion This audit identified that the occupational therapists in the medicine for the older person service were not CGA compliant. CGA training now forms an important part of our OT induction programme. We are now “playing our part” in CGA with improvements in all domains. CGA is now commonplace practice within our team, in line with international and national best practice guidance for management of frailty.