ABSTRACT
A variety of assessment scales have been devised for use with elderly people. The tools have been designed to provide objective measurement of function for screening, evaluating baseline status, monitoring changes over time, determining the effects of interventions, and predicting and documenting outcomes of individuals and populations. Elderly people have complex clinical presentations and needs, which necessitate a special approach to their evaluation and care. The process of comprehensive geriatric assessment is multi-dimensional - that is, in addition to medical diagnostic evaluation, it determines functional status and quality of life through frequent use of standardised measurement instruments. In the elderly population, a holistic assessment and use of assessment scales form part of a holistic approach. In the UK, the Royal College of Physicians and the British Geriatrics Society recommend the use of assessment scales as part of standard clinical practice in recording the health status of elderly people.
