Rapid Geriatric Assessment: A Tool for Primary Care Physicians

Defining Undernutrition (Malnutrition) in Older Persons

“…Undernutrition is an important cause of sarcopenia and frailty in older persons, suggesting that they should be screened for at the same time as using validated nutritional risk screening tools. The Rapid Geriatric Assessment (RGA) tool is a rapid method by which this can be done (59). There are numerous treatable causes of weight loss in older persons and these can be recognized using the "MEALS-ON-WHEELS" mnemonic (Table 1) (60).…”

Involving Primary Care Health Professionals in Geriatric Assessment

“…At the same time, the instrument inquires if the person has provided advanced directives (4,5). It was developed to be used in conjunction with the Annual Medicare Wellness Visit (6).…”

Geriatrics in the 21st century

“…Already a number of approaches have been developed to increase awareness of these syndromes (55,56). These approaches include the Kihon Index (57, 58), EasyCare (59, 60), Vulnerable Elder Survey (61), the Gerontopole Frailty Index (62)(63)(64)(65), and the Rapid Geriatric Assessment (66,67).…”