title: Nursing assessment of the elderly patient.
abstract: Assessment, the first phase of the nursing process, is the key factor in identifying a patient's health care needs. This article addresses the special needs of the elderly population and discusses the application of the assessment process to the planning and implementation of patient care.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Whitehouse
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*