Practice Tools to Meet the Complex Needs of Older Vulnerable Military Beneficiaries

The elderly military beneficiary is a valued, high-risk, high-cost, and complex individual with unique medical needs. Attention to common geriatric syndromes (such as incontinence) and quality end-of-life care is critical in this population. Care of older adults is part of every adult medical and surgical specialty and represents a significant portion of the care rendered by the Military Health System (MHS)-a system that is currently oriented to warrior care and the care of young adults and families. Unique additional knowledge and expertise to care for the age-related geriatric syndromes is required by all providers. Maintaining quality of care for this older vulnerable population also requires unique measurement metrics and is facilitated by use of validated practice tools. This article will review validated practice tools that can assist military physicians and facilities in prospective and retrospective quality improvement (QI) initiatives to improve the therapeutic and palliative care of our older beneficiaries.