DEVELOPMENT OF SCREENING TOOL FOR THE ELDERLY BASED ON 48/6 MODEL OF CARE: THE GERIATIRIC SCREENING FOR CARE-10 (GSC-10)

Abstract

Aging is a process of life that cannot be denied, but if we can minimize functional decline during hospitalization and improve recovery of function, the elderly will be able to maintain wellness and well-being after discharge. To improve quality of life of the elderly, it is necessary to be able to quickly and easily identify possible concerns caused by aging and complex diseases and to prevent functional decline. The Geriatric Screening for Care-10 (GSC-10) was developed through systematic review, working group consensus, and geriatric expert’s peer review. It is an initial screening tool for health problems in the elderly, and has been developed to assess problems in 10 domains: cognitive impairment, depression and delirium, polypharmacy, functional decline, dysphagia, malnutrition, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pain. The GSC-10 is not limited by who can conduct it (medical team, staff, caregiver, self-report), healthcare setting (acute, long-term, community-dwelling, or home care), or within-hospital setting (outpatient, inpatient, emergency department). The completed version of the Geriatric Screening for Care will be used as a basic tool for collecting patient health information and sharing it among fields of care in hospitals, and in inter-organizational collaborations for transitions in care.