A geriatric assessment in Ontario helps older adults and families understand changes in memory, mobility, falls, medications, mood, daily function, caregiver stress, and home safety. Families can start by speaking with a family doctor, nurse practitioner, Ontario Health atHome, a hospital team, or a local specialized geriatric service. The goal is to create a care plan that supports health, safety, independence, and caregivers.
This guide is for seniors, adult children, caregiver spouses, and families who are not sure what to ask or where to start.
Quick Answer
- A geriatric assessment is a detailed health and function review for older adults with complex needs.
- It may look at memory, falls, mobility, medications, mood, nutrition, continence, home safety, caregiver stress, and care planning.
- Access varies by region. Some services require a physician or nurse practitioner referral, while others may accept referrals from family, caregivers, health professionals, or the senior directly.
- Ontario Health atHome says anyone can make a referral with the person’s consent, including a doctor, family member, caregiver, friend, neighbour, or the person themselves.
- Families should prepare a medication list, health history, fall history, caregiver concerns, and questions before the appointment.
What Is a Geriatric Assessment?
A geriatric assessment is a health assessment designed for older adults who have more than one concern at the same time. It looks beyond one symptom.
A comprehensive geriatric assessment, often called a CGA, is best suited to older adults living with complex or multiple health conditions, such as frailty, dementia, seniors’ mental health concerns, or several health issues together. Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario says a CGA may happen in acute care, primary care, or community settings.
The Interprofessional Comprehensive Geriatric Toolkit describes CGA as a process that evaluates many areas of health and function, then develops a coordinated care plan to support aging well.
In simple terms, a geriatric assessment asks:
What is changing, why might it be happening, and what support plan could help?
When Should Families Ask About a Geriatric Assessment?
Families may want to ask about a geriatric assessment when a senior has several changes at once.
Common reasons include:
- New or worsening memory concerns
- Repeated falls or fear of falling
- Trouble walking, transferring, or using stairs
- Medication confusion or side effects
- Weight loss or poor appetite
- Low mood, anxiety, or behaviour changes
- Difficulty bathing, dressing, cooking, shopping, or managing money
- Caregiver stress or burnout
- Recent hospital visits or emergency room visits
- Safety concerns at home
- Questions about staying at home, home care, or long-term planning
A geriatric assessment is not only for people with a diagnosis. It can also help families understand patterns and plan next steps.
Why Geriatric Assessments Matter in Ontario
Ontario’s older-adult care system is under pressure. Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario reported rising caregiver distress, regional access challenges, and significant wait times across specialized seniors’ care services. In its 2026 reporting, PGLO noted that 77.6% of programs reporting wait times had waits of seven days or longer, and some community programs, such as falls prevention services, reported waits of up to a year.
PGLO also noted access challenges in rural and remote communities, especially in Northern Ontario.
For families, this means it helps to prepare early. If your parent is having memory changes, falls, medication problems, or caregiver stress, it is better to ask questions before a crisis.
What May Be Included in a Geriatric Assessment?
A geriatric assessment may include several areas. The exact assessment depends on the clinic, team, referral reason, and senior’s needs.
Memory and Thinking
The team may ask about:
- Memory changes
- Confusion
- Missed bills or appointments
- Repeating questions
- Getting lost
- Medication mistakes
- Changes in judgment
- Safety concerns with cooking or driving
This does not mean the senior will automatically receive a dementia diagnosis. The goal is to understand what is happening and what follow-up may be needed.
Falls and Mobility
Falls are a common reason for referral.
The assessment may review:
- Recent falls
- Balance
- Walking
- Strength
- Dizziness
- Footwear
- Vision
- Stairs
- Bathroom safety
- Use of a cane, walker, or wheelchair
Some teams may recommend physiotherapy, occupational therapy, mobility aids, falls prevention programs, or home safety changes.
Medications
Medication review is often important for older adults.
Families should bring:
- Prescription medications
- Over-the-counter medications
- Vitamins and supplements
- Eye drops, creams, inhalers, and patches
- Pharmacy blister packs
- A list of allergies or past side effects
The CGA Toolkit recommends that patients bring all medications to the appointment. It also recommends bringing a caregiver or family member who can help provide history.
Do not stop or change medication without speaking with a doctor, nurse practitioner, or pharmacist.
Mood and Mental Health
The team may ask about:
- Low mood
- Anxiety
- Sleep
- Grief
- Loneliness
- Irritability
- Hallucinations
- Behaviour changes
- Caregiver concerns
Mental health changes in later life can be connected to health conditions, medications, pain, sleep, isolation, grief, or memory changes. A geriatric assessment can help decide what supports may be useful.
Daily Function and Home Safety
A geriatric assessment may review how the senior manages daily life.
This may include:
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Toileting
- Meal preparation
- Shopping
- Housekeeping
- Transportation
- Managing money
- Using the phone
- Taking medication
- Moving around the home
The team may ask whether the senior lives alone, has stairs, has grab bars, uses equipment, or has support from family or home care.
Caregiver Needs
Caregiver stress is part of the picture. A spouse, adult child, or family caregiver may be doing many tasks quietly.
The assessment may ask:
- Who helps now?
- How often do they help?
- Is the caregiver sleeping?
- Is the caregiver missing work?
- Is respite needed?
- Are there safety concerns?
- Is the family unsure about next steps?
Seniors Care Network says GAIN teams may assess older adults with caregiver burden or stress, memory changes, functional decline, falls, and mobility changes.
Care Planning
The final goal is a care plan. This may include recommendations for:
- Primary care follow-up
- Medication review
- Memory clinic
- Falls prevention
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational therapy
- Home safety changes
- Home care
- Adult day programs
- Respite care
- Community support services
- Caregiver support
- Specialist referral
- Follow-up monitoring
A good care plan should be clear enough for the senior and family to understand.
How Do You Get a Geriatric Assessment in Ontario?
The path depends on where the senior lives and what services are available.
Families can start with:
- Family doctor or nurse practitioner
Ask whether a referral to a geriatrician, geriatric clinic, memory clinic, falls clinic, geriatric psychiatry, or specialized geriatric service is appropriate. - Ontario Health atHome
Ontario Health atHome says referrals can be made with the person’s consent by many people, including the person, caregiver, family member, doctor, friend, or neighbour. After contact, the person may be connected with a care coordinator or referred to a community program or service. - Hospital discharge or emergency department team
If the senior was recently in hospital or the emergency department, ask whether a geriatric emergency management nurse, geriatric outreach team, or community referral is available. - Regional geriatric programs or clinics
Access varies by region. For example, Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario says geriatric outreach assessment referrals may come from primary care providers, other health professionals, family, caregivers, or the person themselves, while geriatric clinics and day hospitals require a physician referral. - Local specialized programs
Some regions have GAIN clinics, memory clinics, geriatric assessment outreach teams, or hospital-based geriatric clinics. Seniors Care Network says GAIN teams provide comprehensive geriatric assessments and create care plans with older adults and care partners.
What Should Families Bring to the Appointment?
Bring practical information. It helps the team see the full picture.
Bring:
- Health card
- Glasses and hearing aids
- Medication bottles or blister packs
- List of doctors and specialists
- Recent hospital papers
- List of diagnoses
- Recent falls or emergency visits
- Questions from the senior and caregiver
- Notes about memory, mood, meals, sleep, pain, and mobility
- Home care schedule, if any
- Power of attorney documents, if relevant
- A family member or caregiver, if the senior agrees
The CGA Toolkit recommends letting patients and caregivers know what to expect, bringing medications, bringing a caregiver for extra history, and providing written instructions at the end of the assessment.
Questions Families Should Ask
Before or during the appointment, ask:
- What concerns are you assessing today?
- Is this a full geriatric assessment or a focused assessment?
- Who will be involved in the assessment?
- Should we bring medications?
- Should a caregiver attend?
- Will memory, falls, mood, medications, and home safety be reviewed?
- Will we receive a written care plan?
- Who sends the report to the family doctor?
- What should we do while waiting for follow-up?
- Are there community supports we should contact now?
- Should we ask for home care, respite, adult day programs, or transportation?
- What symptoms should prompt urgent medical attention?
- Who do we call if the situation changes?
How to Compare Providers Before You Contact Them
Families searching for geriatric assessment Ontario or senior assessment near me may need to compare public, private, and community options.
Compare:
- Location and service area: Does the provider serve your city or region?
- Referral rules: Is a doctor referral required, or can family/self-referral be accepted?
- Assessment focus: Memory, falls, medications, mood, mobility, home safety, caregiver needs, or all of these?
- Team members: Geriatrician, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, social worker, dietitian, or nurse.
- Setting: Clinic, hospital, home, virtual, or hybrid.
- Wait time: How long before the first appointment?
- Reports: Will a written care plan be provided?
- Caregiver involvement: Can adult children or spouses participate?
- Costs: Is it publicly funded, private, or insurance-covered?
- Accessibility: Is the location senior-friendly and wheelchair accessible?
- Follow-up: Is there follow-up after the first visit?
Young & Blissful can help families explore Medical & Dental Care, Caregiver Support, Home Care, Transportation, and related senior-care services across Ontario.
Costs and Considerations in Ontario
Costs depend on the service.
Some geriatric assessments through hospitals, clinics, regional geriatric programs, or Ontario Health atHome pathways may be publicly funded for eligible Ontario residents. For example, a Champlain Healthline listing for Bruyère Health’s Geriatric Assessment Outreach Team states there are no fees with an OHIP card for that listed service.
Private services, transportation, home care, occupational therapy, counselling, equipment, and caregiver support may have separate costs. Pricing can vary by provider, location, service type, visit length, and funding source.
Before booking, ask:
- Is this covered by OHIP?
- Is there a fee?
- Are private insurance receipts available?
- Is transportation included?
- Are follow-up visits included?
- Are reports or letters included?
- Are family meetings included?
- What happens if the senior’s needs change?
Tips for Seniors, Caregivers, and Adult Children
Write down changes before the appointment. A short list is better than trying to remember everything during the visit.
Track:
- Falls
- Medication problems
- Missed meals
- Weight changes
- Memory concerns
- Mood changes
- Sleep problems
- Pain
- Wandering
- Driving concerns
- Caregiver stress
- Missed appointments
- Trouble bathing, dressing, cooking, or managing money
Be honest about caregiving. If the caregiver is exhausted, say so. Caregiver strain is part of the care plan.
Include the senior whenever possible. Ask what matters most to them: staying at home, walking safely, reducing pain, seeing friends, managing medication, or giving the caregiver a break.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Waiting for a crisis.
Ask for help when changes begin, not only after a fall or hospital visit.
Only mentioning one symptom.
A geriatric assessment is most helpful when the team understands the full pattern.
Not bringing medications.
Bring all medications, including over-the-counter products and supplements.
Leaving the caregiver out.
Caregivers often know what is happening day to day.
Expecting one appointment to solve everything.
The assessment may lead to referrals, home supports, medication review, therapy, or follow-up.
Ignoring home safety.
Falls, bathroom setup, stairs, lighting, and mobility aids are important.
Not asking for the written plan.
A written plan helps families follow through after the appointment.
Provider Checklist
Use this checklist before choosing or contacting a geriatric assessment provider in Ontario:
- Does the provider serve your city, region, or Ontario Health area?
- Is a referral required?
- Can families, caregivers, or the senior self-refer?
- What age group or health concerns do they support?
- Do they assess memory, falls, medications, mood, mobility, home safety, and caregiver needs?
- Who is on the care team?
- Is the appointment in-home, clinic-based, hospital-based, virtual, or hybrid?
- Is the service covered by OHIP or privately paid?
- Are wait times explained clearly?
- Can a caregiver or adult child attend if the senior agrees?
- Will the family receive a written care plan?
- Will the report be shared with the family doctor or nurse practitioner?
- Is follow-up available?
- Is the service appropriate for the senior’s mobility, language, hearing, vision, memory, and comfort level?
Related Services to Explore on Young & Blissful
- Medical & Dental Care — geriatric clinics, family medicine, pharmacy support, medication review, nursing, and specialist referrals.
- Caregiver Support Programs — caregiver coaching, respite planning, family support, and care navigation.
- Home Care & Personal Support — PSW support, bathing help, dressing support, companionship, medication reminders, and respite care.
- Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy — falls prevention, mobility support, home safety assessments, and aging-in-place planning.
- Mental Health & Wellness — support for mood, anxiety, grief, caregiver stress, and seniors’ mental health.
- Transportation Services — rides to assessments, follow-up appointments, clinics, and community programs.
FAQs
What is a geriatric assessment?
A geriatric assessment is a detailed review of an older adult’s health, function, safety, medications, memory, mood, mobility, and support needs. It helps create a care plan for the senior and family.
How do I get a geriatric assessment in Ontario?
Start with the family doctor, nurse practitioner, Ontario Health atHome, hospital team, or local specialized geriatric service. Referral rules vary by region and program.
Who should consider a geriatric assessment?
A geriatric assessment may help seniors with memory changes, repeated falls, medication concerns, mobility changes, mood changes, caregiver stress, or difficulty managing daily tasks.
Does a geriatric assessment diagnose dementia?
It may include memory and thinking assessment, but it does not always lead to a dementia diagnosis. The team may recommend further testing, follow-up, or referral to a memory clinic if needed.
Can adult children attend the appointment?
Often, yes, if the senior agrees. A family member or caregiver can help provide daily-life details that the senior may forget or may not notice.
Is a geriatric assessment covered by OHIP?
Some geriatric assessment services through hospitals, clinics, regional programs, or public pathways may be covered for eligible Ontario residents. Private services may have separate fees, so families should confirm before booking.
What should families ask during a geriatric assessment?
Ask what was assessed, what changes were found, what the care plan includes, who will follow up, what supports are recommended, and what symptoms should lead to urgent medical care.
Key Takeaways
- A geriatric assessment in Ontario can help families understand memory, falls, medications, mobility, mood, home safety, caregiver stress, and care planning.
- Access varies by region and program.
- Families can start with a family doctor, nurse practitioner, Ontario Health atHome, hospital team, or local geriatric service.
- Bring all medications, health history, fall notes, caregiver concerns, and questions.
- Caregiver stress should be discussed openly.
- A written care plan helps families follow next steps.
- Young & Blissful can help families compare related senior-care services across Ontario.
Conclusion + CTA
A geriatric assessment can give families a clearer picture when an older adult’s needs are changing. It can help connect concerns about memory, falls, medications, mood, mobility, home safety, and caregiver stress into one care plan.
Start by asking the senior’s family doctor, nurse practitioner, Ontario Health atHome, or a local specialized geriatric service what referral path is right for your region.
Young & Blissful helps Ontario seniors, caregivers, and adult children explore Medical & Dental Care, Caregiver Support, Home Care, Transportation, Therapy, and Wellness services near them. Use it as a starting point to compare local supports and prepare for the next step in care.
