Assessment of Cognitive Function and Mental Status in the Frail Elderly

Help me study for my Health & Medical class. I’m stuck and don’t understand.

It is often difficult and challenging to have time in primary care practice to assess and determine cognitive functioning and mental status of a frail elderly client to determine if they are safe to carry out their activities of daily living. No one wants to take away the independent living arrangements and independent functioning of an elderly client.

• Based on your experience and knowledge of frail elderly and risk management, reflect on your role as a nurse practitioner assessing cognitive functioning and mental status of a frail elderly client in the primary care setting.
• Select one valid and reliable measurement tool to assess cognitive functioning and mental status of a frail elderly client in the primary care setting.
• Provide one example of how you would apply the valid and reliable tool you selected in clinical practice for assessing cognitive functioning and mental status of a frail elderly client in primary care.
• Reflect on why the nurse practitioner must rely on valid and reliable assessment tools in clinical practice.
• Locate one peer-reviewed scholarly journal article describing one valid and reliable assessment tool to measure cognitive functioning and mental status of a frail elderly client in primary care.