👤 By the CinnaEMS Content Team🕐 Updated 2026-09-27🏷️ Secondary Assessment🔖 Free to read, print, and share
Also known as: elderly · older adults · geriatrics · falls · polypharmacy · delirium · elder abuse · dementia
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Use this quick-reference guide to recognise, treat and hand over Geriatric Patients on the NREMT and on the call. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
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📒 The 1-minute cheat sheet
📌 Atypical
MI as weakness
Infection as confusion
Fall as the symptom
🧪 Medications
Beta blocker hides fast pulse
Blood thinner + head bump
📌 Duty
Ask the baseline
Bring the med list
Report suspected abuse
📚 Geriatric Patients — full study notes
The cheat sheet above is your quick recall card. These notes go deeper — what it is, what to do first, what changes the plan, and what to hand over.
Older adults hide serious illness behind small complaints. The exam checks atypical presentations, medication effects and falls, and the duty to recognize and report elder abuse.
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Key points
Understand these first
Atypical presentation: MI or infection may appear as weakness, confusion or a fall.
Beta blockers can prevent a fast pulse, so shock may look stable.
Blood thinners turn a minor head bump into a possible brain bleed.
Ask what caused a fall — the fall may be the symptom of a medical problem.
New confusion is delirium until proven otherwise; ask family about the baseline.
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Treatment priorities
What to do, in order
Low threshold for spinal motion restriction after a ground-level fall.
Bring the medication list or containers to the hospital.
Suspected abuse or neglect: document objectively and report per law.
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Red flags — report now
Escalate immediately
A fall on a blood thinner
New confusion with fever
Injuries that do not match the story
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Patient teaching
What patients must know
Normal vital signs in an older patient on heart medications may be false reassurance.
❓ Geriatric Patients: NREMT FAQs
What are the priority actions for Geriatric Patients in the field?
Low threshold for spinal motion restriction after a ground-level fall. Bring the medication list or containers to the hospital. Suspected abuse or neglect: document objectively and report per law.
What findings in Geriatric Patients change your plan or your transport decision?
A fall on a blood thinner. New confusion with fever. Injuries that do not match the story.
What do I need to know about Geriatric Patients for the NREMT?
Atypical presentation: MI or infection may appear as weakness, confusion or a fall. Beta blockers can prevent a fast pulse, so shock may look stable. Blood thinners turn a minor head bump into a possible brain bleed. Ask what caused a fall — the fall may be the symptom of a medical problem.
What should the crew communicate or document for Geriatric Patients?
Normal vital signs in an older patient on heart medications may be false reassurance.
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Quick Tip
Atypical presentation: MI or infection may appear as weakness, confusion or a fall.