Introduction: Integrated care for older adults living at home aims to provide holistic, multidisciplinary and person-centered care. One of the services provided in several integrated care programs is the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), conducted to identify older adults’ care needs. There are many different ways to conduct a CGA. However, it is still unclear what distinguishes these CGAs from each other. Also, it is yet unknown to what extent the principles of integrated care (holism, multidisciplinarity and person-centredness) are reflected in CGAs. The objectives of this study were to: 1) compare different CGAs conducted within integrated care programs for older adults living at home, and 2) describe how the principles of integrated care were applied in these CGAs. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify integrated care programs including a CGA. Data were extracted on main characteristics of identified CGA tools and procedures, and how principles of integrated care were applied in these CGAs. Results: Twenty-six programs were included in this study, of which most were implemented in the Netherlands and the U.S. Twenty different CGA tools and procedures were identified. The majority of CGAs aimed to have a holistic, multidisciplinary and person-centred approach, although the way and extent to which CGAs incorporated these principles differed. Discussion: This systematic review highlights the variability of CGAs used in integrated care for older people living at home. The overview of CGAs may promote further exchange of CGA tools and procedures, and help researchers and professionals to not reinvent the wheel.
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