[Tailored care for elderly patients; the importance of geriatric expertise]. / Zorg op maat voor ouderen.

ABSTRACT

Treating elderly patients can be challenging. It is very important to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of potential treatments in individual patients. This treatment decision making can be guided by geriatric parameters. With the accumulating evidence on the added value on prediction of outcomes of (comprehensive) geriatric assessment in older patients with intensive treatment options, the question shifts from whether performing a (comprehensive) geriatric assessment is useful, to how to implement this into standard practice in a feasible and effective way. This paper discusses several issues regarding (comprehensive) geriatric assessment in elderly patients, like how to distinguish fit and frail patients and when performing a geriatric screening, geriatric assessment or a comprehensive geriatric assessment.