What is your approach to screening for cognitive impairment in hospitalized older adults?

Upon admission to the hospital, all older adults should undergo a brief cognitive screening. This initial step helps establish a baseline and can identify previously unrecognized cognitive issues. Several tools are well-suited for this purpose; we use minicog as the screening tool at our hospital.

The Mini-Cog is a simple and quick tool, taking only about three minutes to administer. It combines a three-item recall test with a clock-drawing test, assessing memory and executive function. Its simplicity makes it a good choice for a busy hospital setting.

It is important to differentiate between delirium and cognitive impairment in the hospital setting.

As we know, delirium is a common and serious condition in hospitalized older adults. Delir...