Why Assessment Matters

I am not a doctor, but I play one in very large awkward glasses on TikTok lol. So, I’m obviously no expert on medical stuff or how scientists and super smart doctors do what they do. But having been a patient and also watched plenty of The Pitt in my time, I know they are very concerned about risks.

Every time I go to the doctor they’re always asking me if I drink and if so how much, or do I use nicotine products or recreational drugs and if so to what degree and they’re always very interested in how much I exercise and weigh and what I do for fun and how well I sleep, blah, blah, blah. Some of my answers are blatant lies. But I’ve found in some cases it’s better to fib a little than be straight up Honest Abe because that can cause more time and trouble for a person. Once, during the prep interview for a colonoscopy, I overhead the person in the curtained bay next to me explain some nuance about their vice and felt SO BAD for them because I knew that would further delay the task at hand which is to just be DONE with the procedure already.

I digress, bigly. So all that to say, medical professionals are very, very interested in risk. Before a physician recommends treatment, they gather information. Blood pressure is measured. Cholesterol is checked. Bone density is evaluated. Cognitive changes are assessed. Risk comes before recommendations because understanding a person’s starting point leads to more thoughtful decisions.

Those doctors are pretty smart!

As I’ve continued thinking about the idea of Preventative Gerontology as a possible framework, I keep returning to the importance of assessment. If our goal is to help people prepare for aging before crisis arrives, shouldn’t we begin by understanding where the greatest vulnerabilities exist?

That question led me to develop the GeriDrama Risk Score. The purpose of the score isn’t to predict exactly what someone’s future will look like. Aging is wonderfully individual, and many factors remain beyond our control. Instead, the assessment is designed to reveal areas where preparation may be lacking and where thoughtful planning today could make tomorrow easier.

For example, has someone completed essential legal documents? Have they talked openly with loved ones about their wishes? Do they understand how long-term care is financed? Have they considered housing, transportation, caregiving preferences, or the people who may someday help make decisions on their behalf?

Each answer offers another piece of the picture.

In many ways, the GeriDrama Risk Score functions like a conversation starter disguised as an assessment. It encourages people to pause, reflect, and recognize opportunities to strengthen their plans while they still have choices and time.

From a scientific perspective, assessment has an important role. It creates a way to identify potential vulnerabilities, measure preparedness, and establish a baseline before introducing an intervention. It also provides something equally valuable: a shared language for discussing complex issues that families often avoid until circumstances force the conversation.

That is why I see assessment as one of the foundational building blocks of a possible Preventative Gerontology Framework.

Assessment helps us understand where we are.

Intervention helps us decide where we want to go.

Implementation helps us take the first step.

In my next post, I’d like to explore that second piece: Why practical interventions matter—and how Grand Plans was designed to help people move from awareness to preparation.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

What questions do you think every adult should ask themselves before a crisis requires someone else to answer them?

Take the free GeriDrama Risk Score and continue the conversation at www.mygrandplans.com.