Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM)

To help identify the presence of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, Saint Peter's University Hospital offers Geriatric Evaluation and Management Services (GEMS). Results from this thorough evaluation are used to develop a personal care plan that enables patients to function at their highest physical, psychological and social levels.

A first visit is scheduled at either Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick or the Center for Adult Health Care in Monroe Township. An interdisciplinary team, consisting of a geriatrician, a nurse practitioner and a licensed clinical social worker, meets with the patient and his or her family for several hours. The team takes a medical and surgical history, reviews the patient's medications, conducts physical and cognitive examinations, and screens for depression. The team then counsels the patient and family and develops a personalized plan of care.

Three follow-up visits are scheduled to complete and review diagnostic tests, help the family implement the plan of care, and evaluate the patient's progress. If requested, a geriatrician continues to monitor the patient for dementia and behavioral problems. The team reports its findings to the patient’s primary care physician, who continues to manage the patient on an ongoing basis.