Dorothy Adler Geriatric Assessment Center

Our team includes geriatricians, nurse case managers, and ambulatory care associates.

We conduct diagnostic assessments on an outpatient basis at our Yale New Haven Hospital-based clinic or at the patient’s preferred site. Family meetings are held at each visit and include a physician, case manager, family/caregivers, and if appropriate, the patient. We also work closely with the patient’s own doctor. The result is a comprehensive plan to help patients optimize function, independence, and quality of life.

We help patients and families develop connections to appropriate community services such as home health care agencies, adult daycare centers, and volunteer support groups. Moreover, in conjunction with the patient’s physician, our staff provides ongoing case management and clinical care, as necessary. Finally, our center serves as an important educational site for interns, residents, and fellows in geriatric medicine. We serve as a model for other institutions who are developing geriatric centers, and an important site of patient-oriented research in geriatrics.

When a patient brings a loved one to our center for an assessment, he or she will receive:

• A comprehensive history and medical exam
• Risk evaluation for falls, mobility, and musculoskeletal complaints of back or joint pain
• Comprehensive cognitive exam and depression screening
• A review of medications and an evaluation for polypharmacy
• A review of patient priorities and goals of care
• Caregiver counseling
• An assessment for home-based care needs, as well as for nursing home and assisted living placement