BigPicture National Conference in Turku

The BigPicture National Conference in Turku, Finland focused on the significance and history of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA). The event featured several valuable presentations that addressed various perspectives and experiences related to geriatric assessment. The conference began with an opening speech that introduced the project and welcomed the participants. This was followed by multiple presentations on different aspects of geriatric assessment.

One of the key presentations discussed the history and significance of CGA, which is often attributed to Dr. Marjorie Warren. In the 1930s, Dr. Warren recognized the importance of comprehensive and systematic assessment, which allowed her to identify elderly patients who could benefit from rehabilitation. In 1984, Lawrence Rubenstein and colleagues demonstrated that CGA significantly reduced the risk of nursing home admission, decreased acute hospital days, and reduced the need for rehospitalization, as well as mortality. In 2008, a European-level conference on aging-related diseases resulted in the Silver Paper, aiming to bring about changes in practices to reduce the burdens associated with aging-related diseases.
The results of the Uusikaupunki model were also presented. Uusikaupunki has been systematically conducting CGA for over 10 years, resulting in significant cost savings and reduced healthcare utilization for residents over 75 years old. The role of nurses in geriatric assessment was highlighted, emphasizing their crucial role in maintaining the functional capacity and quality of life of the elderly. Nurses act as “gatekeepers” to services and provide valuable information to the multidisciplinary team by observing the functional capacity of the elderly in daily activities and interviewing the elderly and their relatives.

The development of a training model for nurses was discussed, covering various aspects of gerontology, elderly care ethics, clinical skills, and health status assessment. The presentation also addressed the challenges and solutions in elderly care, emphasizing the need for broad and diverse job descriptions, improving job attractiveness and retention, and developing the entire system. Geriatric assessment should be multidisciplinary and can improve the implementation and regular evaluation of care plans.

The panel discussion provided an opportunity for participants to ask questions and discuss the topic. Key points raised included the need for nurses to receive training in geriatric assessment and concerns about the lack of attractiveness of elderly care work among young people. The importance of municipalities and cities in the well-being of the elderly was also emphasized.
The conference concluded with a summary of the day’s events and thanks to the participants. It was concluded that the BigPicture project meets the current training needs of nurses. CGA has proven to be an effective tool in elderly care, reducing the risk of nursing home admission and acute hospital days. The role of nurses is crucial in maintaining the functional capacity and improving the quality of life of the elderly. Future challenges require even more expertise and specialization, and the entire system needs to be developed.

The Turku team thanks all participants, presenters, and panelists for an inspiring and rewarding conference.