Geriatric Assessor-inpatient Geriatric Consultation

Start Date:
as soon as possible

Pay rate, benefits and other terms and conditions are as per the OPSEU / ONA Collective Agreement

The Geriatric Inpatient Consultation Team (GICT) serves as an expert clinical resource across inpatient hospital services, focusing on older adults with frailty who are at risk for adverse events, loss of function, or difficulty returning to independent or supported living in the community.

This team provides expert consultation and treatment to patients over the age of 65 centered on comprehensive geriatric assessment, identifying key geriatric issues and collaborating with attending teams, patients, families, and other caregivers to ensure the implementation of recommendations.

GCTs also facilitate linkages and referrals to appropriate post-discharge and community services.

GCTs are champions of senior friendly care, and serve a role as capacity builders in their host organizations, providing formal education and peer-to-peer mentorship, and supporting senior-friendly initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Training:

• Minimum of a four (4) year Bachelor's degree in health related field (Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN), Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), etc.) from an accredited university.
• Current Certificate of Registration in good standing with a regulatory college (CPO, College of Nurses, College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, College of Occupational Therapist, etc.).

Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years' experience working within Specialized Geriatric Services and completing assessment and treatment guided by the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment.

Note:

A core team of geriatric assessors includes Registered Nurse (RN), Occupational Therapist (OT), Physiotherapist (PT) and Social Work (SW) as priority roles.

Should those professions already be a part of the team then determination of the next most appropriate profession occurs in consideration of existing resources within the local context.

This team functions in an interprofessional model where all team members act as geriatric assessors, sharing a common set of competencies.

Team members are cross trained to complete comprehensive geriatric assessments. Geriatric assessors are supported by an expert clinician whose scope includes

DUTIES

• Assist in the implementation of standardized protocols to identify, screen and refer the high-risk older adults in acute care, including ongoing education and training.
• Complete Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments (CGA) with patients and their care partner(s) across various acute care areas that include medical/surgical history, medication, continence, social history, falls, function, cognition, mood/mental health, sleep, pain, nutrition, physical assessment.
• Analyse and synthesize findings from geriatric assessment into a comprehensive clinical report identifying client's priority needs and relevant treatment options designed to optimize their independence.
• Create comprehensive care plans with the individual and their care partner(s) and must have clear processes for communication of this plan.
• Develop a person-centered, goal-oriented and individualized care plan that is aligned with domains of the CGA. This plan should address modifiable biopsychosocial factors and consider medical diagnosis/prognosis and co-morbidities that impact the health goals of older adults.
• Deliver interventions based on the results of the CGA within an integrated model of care.
• Treat patients to optimize functional independence and physical performance promoting optimal mobility, physical activity and overall health and wellness.
• Implement strategies to address client safety issues and mitigate risk within the acute setting and transition to community.
• Communicate directly with the care team, clients, families and community partners throughout the therapy process to make clear recommendations and assist in their implementation.
• Provides education and training to the older adult and care partner for them to be able to manage health care needs, including guidance on community-based resources, medications and medical equipment.
• Systematically and continuously evaluate the extent to which the individual's health needs are being met and modify plan of care as indicated by patient's response and condition.
• Ensure that a senior friendly care approach is implemented and includes processes for screening, prevention, management, and monitoring of functional decline and delirium.
• Provide follow up to monitor implementation of recommendations, outcomes and adjust plans as necessary.
• Collaborate with clients, families, interprofessional team members, and community partners throughout the intervention process and advocate to ensure client needs are met.
• Support transition planning including developing linkages with community services (e.g. family physician, Community Care Access Centre, long-t

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