NCCPA CAQ Geriatrics key terms

Use of multiple medications at once, commonly five or more, which raises the risk of drug interactions, adverse effects, and prescribing cascades in older adults.

Evidence-based list of medications considered potentially inappropriate for older adults, used to guide deprescribing and reduce adverse drug events.

Sequence in which a drug's adverse effect is misread as a new illness, prompting another drug, which may cause further adverse effects.

Planned, supervised process of reducing or stopping medications whose harms outweigh benefits, especially when goals of care or life expectancy change.

Cumulative effect of drugs blocking acetylcholine, which can cause confusion, falls, constipation, and urinary retention in older adults.

Acute, fluctuating disturbance of attention and awareness, often triggered by infection, medication, pain, or metabolic derangement, and frequently reversible.

Chronic, progressive decline in cognition that impairs independence in daily activities, with causes such as Alzheimer disease, vascular disease, and Lewy body disease.

Objective cognitive decline beyond normal aging that does not substantially interfere with everyday function, though risk of progression to dementia is elevated.

Structured evaluation of gait, balance, vision, medications, orthostatic blood pressure, and home hazards to identify and reduce fall risk.

Drop in blood pressure on standing, typically at least 20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic, causing dizziness and increasing fall risk.

Timed walking measure, often over four or six meters, used as a simple marker of mobility, frailty, and survival in older adults.

Syndrome of reduced physiologic reserve and strength that increases vulnerability to stressors, illness, and functional decline in older adults.

Age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength that impairs mobility and raises risk of falls, disability, and mortality.

Basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, and feeding, used to measure functional dependence.

Higher-order tasks needed to live independently, including managing finances, medications, transportation, shopping, and meal preparation.

Ongoing discussion and documentation of a person's values and preferences for future medical care, including advance directives and health care proxies.

Patient-centered priorities guiding treatment decisions, such as comfort, independence, or life prolongation, especially in serious illness.

Clinical determination that a person can understand relevant information and appreciate consequences well enough to make a specific decision.

Intentional acts or omissions by others that harm an older adult, including physical, emotional, sexual, financial abuse, and neglect.

Brief validated instruments used to detect conditions such as depression, cognitive impairment, or alcohol misuse before fuller evaluation.

Comfort-focused care for people with terminal illness, typically when life expectancy is six months or less, including family support.

Involuntary loss of urine that is common in older adults and may be stress, urge, overflow, or functional in type.

Noncancerous enlargement of the prostate causing lower urinary tract symptoms such as frequency, hesitancy, and nocturia.

Localized damage to skin and underlying tissue from sustained pressure or shear, often over bony prominences in immobile patients.

Multidisciplinary evaluation of medical, functional, cognitive, and social problems in older adults to create a coordinated care plan.

Age-related changes in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion that alter drug levels and increase sensitivity to medications.

Low serum albumin that can increase free fractions of highly protein-bound drugs and signal malnutrition or chronic illness.

Deficient intake or absorption of nutrients causing weight loss, weakness, and impaired healing, common in older adults with chronic disease.

Reduced bone mass and quality that increases fracture risk, often silent until a fragility fracture occurs.

Fracture from a fall at standing height or less, often involving hip, spine, or wrist, and a marker of underlying bone disease.

Glucose disorder in aging patients where treatment targets must balance hyperglycemia risks against hypoglycemia and functional decline.

Elevated blood pressure in aging patients requiring individualized targets, with attention to orthostatic changes and polypharmacy.

Persistent concern about falling that leads to activity restriction, deconditioning, and further loss of independence.

Physical, emotional, and financial strain experienced by family or friends providing care, which can affect the patient's care plan.

Residential or home-based services providing assistance with daily activities and medical supervision for people with lasting functional needs.

Presence of two or more chronic conditions in one person, complicating treatment decisions and increasing the risk of drug interactions.

Estimated remaining years of life based on age, health, and function, used to weigh benefits of screening and preventive treatments.