What Is a Geriatric Evaluation — and Why Every Aging Senior Should Have One
If your aging parent has a primary care doctor, you might assume that's enough. Their annual physical covers the basics — blood pressure, cholesterol, basic labs. But here's something most families don't realize: a standard medical checkup is not designed to assess the full complexity of how an older adult is actually functioning in daily life.
That's where a geriatric evaluation comes in.
A professional geriatric evaluation goes far deeper than a medical exam. It looks at the whole person — physical health, cognitive function, emotional wellbeing, living environment, social connections, financial safety, and future care needs — and produces a clear picture of where a senior stands and what they need to thrive.
At About Senior Solutions, geriatric evaluations are one of our core services. We've seen firsthand how a thorough assessment can change the trajectory of a senior's care — catching problems early, preventing crises, and giving families a roadmap when they feel lost.
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What a Geriatric Evaluation Actually Looks At
A comprehensive geriatric evaluation isn't a single test. It's a multi-dimensional assessment process that typically covers:
Physical Health & Functional Status
- Current medical diagnoses and how well they're being managed
- Medication review — are prescriptions current, appropriate, and being taken correctly?
- Assessment of activities of daily living (ADLs) — dressing, bathing, eating, toileting, mobility
- Assessment of instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) — managing finances, cooking, driving, using a phone
- Fall risk evaluation and home safety
Cognitive & Neurological Assessment
- Memory testing and cognitive screening
- Evaluation for signs of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or mild cognitive impairment
- Assessment of decision-making capacity
- Review of any behavioral or personality changes
Emotional & Psychological Wellbeing
- Screening for depression, anxiety, and social isolation
- Assessment of grief, life transitions, and adjustment issues
- Evaluation of stress on the family caregiver system
Living Environment
- Safety of the home environment
- Adequacy of current support (family, hired caregivers, community resources)
- Transportation access and community engagement
Future Planning
- What are the senior's wishes for care, living situation, and end-of-life decisions?
- Are legal documents in place (advance directive, durable power of attorney, healthcare proxy)?
- What resources — financial, community, and family — are available?
The result of this evaluation isn't a diagnosis. It's a comprehensive picture of where your loved one stands across all the dimensions of life that matter to aging well — and a set of specific, actionable recommendations.
Who Should Get a Geriatric Evaluation?
Geriatric evaluations are particularly valuable in several situations:
After a health crisis. A hospitalization, fall, stroke, or new diagnosis often marks a turning point. A geriatric evaluation helps families understand what changed, what the implications are, and what needs to happen next — before a crisis becomes a pattern.
When you're noticing changes, but nothing is "officially" wrong. Many of the early signs of cognitive decline, depression, or functional decline don't show up on a standard medical exam. A geriatric evaluation is specifically designed to detect these subtle but important shifts.
Before making a major care decision. If your family is considering in-home care, assisted living, or any other care transition, having a thorough evaluation first ensures that the decision is based on real, current information — not assumptions or guesswork.
For estate planning and legal purposes. Attorneys and fiduciaries often request geriatric evaluations to establish a senior's current cognitive and functional status, particularly when decision-making capacity is in question. Our team regularly provides evaluation services for legal and court-related purposes throughout Los Angeles County.
As a proactive wellness measure. You don't have to be in crisis to benefit from knowing where your parent stands. Many families request evaluations simply to establish a baseline — so they have something to compare to as time goes on.
What Makes a Geriatric Evaluation Different from a Doctor's Visit
Your parent's primary care physician is an important part of the picture, but they typically see patients for 15-20 minutes during a scheduled appointment. That's not enough time to comprehensively assess all the dimensions of aging — and most physicians aren't trained specifically in gerontology.
A professional geriatric evaluation conducted by a Certified Gerontologist:
- Takes significantly more time — often two to five hours across one or more visits
- Is conducted in the senior's home or living environment, not a clinical office
- Includes in-depth conversation with both the senior and their family members
- Assesses function in real life, not just clinical markers
- Produces written recommendations that can be shared with physicians, attorneys, and family
At About Senior Solutions, our evaluations are conducted by a team with over 30 years of combined experience in senior care — and led by our founder, Mary Winners, a Certified Gerontologist with deep expertise in Alzheimer's and dementia care, gero-psychiatric issues, acute care hospitalization, assisted living, and hospice.
The Evaluation as a Foundation for Everything Else
One of the most powerful things about a geriatric evaluation is that it becomes the foundation for everything that follows.
When you know exactly where a senior stands — what they can do, what they're struggling with, what risks are present, and what they want — every subsequent decision gets easier. You're not making choices based on incomplete information or family conflict. You're working from a clear, expert-generated assessment that everyone can refer to.
This is especially important in families where siblings disagree, or where a parent is unwilling to be honest about their limitations. The geriatric evaluation provides an objective, credentialed picture that takes the argument out of the conversation.
For attorneys and fiduciaries in Los Angeles County, our evaluations also provide the kind of documented, professional assessment that holds up in court proceedings and conservatorship matters.
What Happens After the Evaluation
After completing a geriatric evaluation, About Senior Solutions provides a written summary of findings and a set of specific recommendations. Depending on your situation, those might include:
- Recommendations for care level and living situation
- Referrals to specific providers, physicians, or specialists
- A safety plan for the home environment
- Guidance on conversations to have with your parent or siblings
- Resources for financial planning, legal documents, or community support
- A care management plan if ongoing monitoring is appropriate
We stay available to answer questions after the report is complete — because real families need more than a document, they need someone they can call.
Serving Families Throughout the San Gabriel Valley
About Senior Solutions conducts geriatric evaluations throughout Los Angeles County, including Monrovia, Arcadia, Pasadena, Duarte, Azusa, Temple City, San Gabriel, Rosemead, Alhambra, Monterey Park, and surrounding communities.
If you're wondering whether a geriatric evaluation is right for your family, we invite you to call us at (888) 736-5864 or fill out our contact form. The conversation is free, and it may be the most important call you make for your loved one this year.
Frequently Asked Questions About Geriatric Evaluations
Q: What's the difference between a geriatric evaluation and a geriatric assessment?
A: The terms are often used interchangeably. A geriatric evaluation or comprehensive geriatric assessment refers to the same multi-dimensional process of evaluating an older adult's physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and functional status. At About Senior Solutions, our geriatric evaluation is a thorough, whole-person process — not a standardized checklist.
Q: Does Medicare cover geriatric evaluations?
A: Medicare may cover certain cognitive assessments or Annual Wellness Visits conducted by a physician, but comprehensive geriatric care management evaluations like the ones we conduct at About Senior Solutions are generally not covered by Medicare. Some long-term care insurance policies do provide reimbursement. We're happy to discuss payment and coverage during an initial consultation.
Q: How long does a geriatric evaluation take?
A: A comprehensive evaluation typically involves one to three meetings and can take two to five hours in total. The process is intentionally thorough — we can't get a complete picture of a senior's life in a 20-minute visit. We work at a pace that is comfortable for the senior and their family.
Q: Can a geriatric evaluation help if my parent has already been diagnosed with dementia?
A: Absolutely. A geriatric evaluation can help clarify the current stage of dementia, identify the most appropriate care level and living situation, uncover any co-occurring conditions that may be affecting behavior, and create a care plan tailored to where your loved one is today — with a clear picture of what to anticipate as the condition progresses.
Q: Can the evaluation be done if my parent is currently in a hospital or rehab facility?
A: Yes. We can conduct evaluations in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, and assisted living communities — not just in a private home. This is particularly useful when families are under time pressure to make a discharge or placement decision.
Q: Do you provide evaluations for legal purposes, such as conservatorship proceedings?
A: Yes. We regularly provide geriatric evaluation services for attorneys, fiduciaries, and courts throughout Los Angeles County. Our founder, Mary Winners, MSG, CPG, is a recognized expert in the field and has extensive experience providing evaluations and expert opinions for legal matters involving older adults. Please contact us to discuss your specific needs.
Q: What if the evaluation reveals more problems than we expected?
A: This happens sometimes, and it's always better to know. The evaluation doesn't create problems — it identifies what was already there. And knowing the full picture is the only way to build a plan that actually works. Our team is experienced at delivering difficult findings with compassion and at helping families take the next steps, even when those steps are hard.