Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment by Primary Care Pharmacists
Interprofessional collaboration is critical to optimizing care for older adults, yet comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) remains challenging in community and primary care settings lacking team-based infrastructure. Given their accessibility and longitudinal patient relationships, pharmacists are well positioned to support CGA beyond medication review. This pilot project used a modified Delphi process to identify practical, evidence-based tools pharmacists could use to assess CGA domains including functional ability, mobility, cognition, and social support. A multidisciplinary panel, including patient partners, rated tool importance using a seven-point scale; consensus was defined as ≥75% agreement at any level of positive endorsement. Highly rated tools were concise and offered nuanced response options. Patient partners aligned with health professionals' ratings but emphasized personalization and preference-sensitive design. Panelists also noted barriers to referral and follow-up. Findings highlight actionable opportunities for pharmacists to enhance geriatric care and underscore the need for accessible, multidisciplinary pathways in primary care.
Authors
- Jennifer Bolt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7597-8036)
- Diane Villanyi
- Karen Lok Yi Wong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4079-9123)
- Karen Dahri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5653-6056)
- Thomas Louie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2131-0158)
- Kristen R. Haase (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4457-2110)
- Aaron Sihoe
- Nancy L. Sin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2519-7797)
- Kerry Wilbur (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5936-4429)
- Chris Rauscher
- Colleen Inglis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7741-4334)
- Vanessa Kitchin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5234-2681)
- Sanda de Graaf
- Daniel J. Wilson
- Anuoluwapo F. Awotunde
- Patti Crozier
- Karen Firus
Institutions
- Interior Health (CA)
- Island Health (CA)
- Vancouver Coastal Health (CA)
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Learning Partnership (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Applied Gerontology
- Published
- 2025-11-10
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648251394763
- Primary Topic
- Frailty in Older Adults
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00