Evaluation of goal attainment in geriatric settings.

Determination of the impact of programs designed to enhance the functional independence of geriatric residents requires prior specification of goals in terms that clearly indicate the desired outcomes. The Geriatric Resident Goals Scale (GRGS) is a listing of specific goals developed to provide a systematic means of assessing resident status and program effectiveness. For male residents in a VA Nursing Home Care Unit, the obtained internal consistency reliability coefficient was .97 (N = 198), and the reliability coefficient reflecting a combination of test-retest and interrater consistency was .95 (N = 22). For a group of 178 residents, the GRGS was predictive of level of independence ratings (r = .82) and mental status (r = .71). The data showed the GRGS to be a highly reliable and valid means of assessing the functioning of geriatric residents, lending support to an assessment process based on a listing of specific goals. The GRGS can be viewed as a general procedure that is adaptable to a range of geriatic settings and programs.