ABSTRACT
Physical examination is an integral component in the assessment, diagnosis, and management of disease. It is uncommon for the elderly to present with a discrete set of symptoms that can be translated to an easily recognizable diagnosis. Multiple comorbidities are also the rule rather than an exception in geriatrics and a problem-based approach is not very well adapted to care for the elderly, given the complexity of the presentation. Physical examination is not an isolated exercise in the geriatric population and should complement a comprehensive geriatric assessment, which includes the patient’s past medical history, mental status examination, social history, living arrangements, medication history, impediments to compliance as well as a complete review of systems. Geriatric assessment is a multidimensional diagnostic instrument that is designed to collect information on a variety of factors and should ideally consist of an interdisciplinary approach.
