Reference — Geriatrics
Geriatric Syndromes Reference
Geriatric syndromes are multifactorial conditions that do not fit one diagnosis — they emerge from accumulated impairments. Each one is common, morbid, and substantially nurse-preventable.
Educational use only. Syndrome management is interdisciplinary; coordinate findings with the provider and care team. This material supports nursing education and exam review. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional policy, or medical direction. Always follow facility protocols and current provider orders.
Syndromes at a Glance
| Syndrome | Key Contributing Factors | Core Nursing Interventions |
|---|---|---|
| Frailty | Sarcopenia, weight loss, exhaustion, low activity, slow gait | Nutrition support, resistance activity, careful med review, advance care planning conversations |
| Falls | Weakness, orthostasis, sedatives, vision loss, environment | Multifactorial risk assessment, gait aids, toileting schedule, environment sweep |
| Urinary incontinence | Detrusor changes, mobility limits, medications, UTI, constipation | Identify type, prompted voiding, treat reversible causes — never accept as normal |
| Pressure injury | Immobility, malnutrition, moisture, friction, thin skin | Repositioning schedule, surface selection, nutrition, moisture management, Braden monitoring |
| Sleep disturbance | Lighter sleep architecture, nocturia, pain, hospital environment | Sleep hygiene protocol, cluster night care, limit caffeine and naps, treat pain |
| Functional decline | Hospitalization and bedrest, delirium, sensory deficits | Early and frequent mobility, ADL participation, glasses and hearing aids on |
| Delirium | Acute illness, medications, dehydration, retention, sensory deprivation | Cause-hunting plus reorientation, sleep, mobility, hydration, family presence |
One syndrome accelerates the next — a fall causes fear, fear causes immobility, immobility causes deconditioning and pressure risk.
The Shared Logic
Multifactorial means multi-intervention
No single fix resolves a geriatric syndrome. Bundled small interventions — mobility, hydration, sensory aids, medication review — outperform any one heroic measure.
Hospitalization is itself a risk factor
Bedrest, lines, foreign environment, and sleep disruption create syndromes in patients who arrived without them. Every hospital day should include mobility and orientation by default.
NCLEX Pearls
- ✦Incontinence, falls, confusion, and functional decline are findings to investigate — never normal aging.
- ✦Ten days of bedrest can cost an older adult more strength than a year of normal aging — mobilize early.
- ✦The Braden scale and the Morse scale are screening, not intervention — the care plan is what changes outcomes.
- ✦Ask what the patient could do last month — the gap is the syndrome.
Related Resources
Standards & sources
Fact-checked Jun 21, 2026This page is written to align with American Geriatrics Society (AGS) · AGS Beers Criteria. It is an educational summary, not a citation of any single document — always verify specific doses, values, and protocols against current guidelines and your facility policy. How we source content →