The Geropsychiatric Nursing Collaborative has developed Geropsychiatric Nursing Competency Enhancements and 27 associated Key Concepts (see POGOe Product 20660) to draw attention to the special mental health issues of older adults and assist faculty to address them. The key concepts are organized into four domains: assessment, management, approach to older adults, and role. This product provides an index of resources addressing Key Concept I.F. -- Assessment: Comprehensive.

A comprehensive approach to assessment in the elderly patient should be adopted because functional and physiological impairments are often complex and interrelated. It is important for nurses to be knowledgeable about medical, functional and psychosocial issues that affect older adults with mental disorders. The comprehensive assessment should be used in the identification of patients at risk for common mental disorders and geriatric syndromes.

• Dementia