The US population is aging, and older adults require a disproportionate share of surgical services with an increased risk for postoperative complications. The American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons has recognized the need to tailor care for this vulnerable population, resulting in the 2022 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Perioperative Evaluation and Management of Frailty Among Older Adults Undergoing Colorectal Surgery. Key among these recommendations is the need to provide treatment recommendations based on the degree of frailty and the need to screen for and treat frailty-related deficits, particularly functional and cognitive impairments. The recommendation to provide a multidisciplinary approach to perioperative care has inspired this proposed symposium, facilitating holistic surgical care for older adults. This symposium provides attendees with an expert multidisciplinary panel in geriatric surgery, designed to provide practical tools and tips to achieve guideline-concordant care, incorporating patient-centered geriatric principles for the aging population.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
Define strategies to achieve functional prehabilitation and nutritional optimization for older adults.
Identify tools and resources to provide cognitive and psychosocial assessments of older adults.
Practice new strategies to assess goals of care and tailor surgical decision-making.
