Geriatric Care

Delirium is a medical condition characterized by acute disturbances in attention and awareness. Symptoms may fluctuate during the course of a day and involve memory deficits and disorientation. There are many causes of delirium. Early recognition and accurate diagnosis constitute the 1st steps to adequate management. The primary goal of treatment is to identify and reverse the underlying cause and prevent future episodes. Pharmacotherapy is reserved for the most severe cases of agitation.

Geriatric care includes the prevention and diagnosis of diseases, as well as the management of diseases, disabilities, and other health concerns in individuals ≥ 65 years of age. Special consideration is given when addressing multiple aspects that are specific to ageing. Preventive measures such as vaccinations as well as cancer and disease screening are essential in this age group because of the high risk for infections and developing cancer and chronic diseases. A majority of older individuals have at least 1 chronic medical condition, which increases the likelihood of polypharmacy and adverse drug reactions. Vision, hearing, cognitive function, gait, and balance are among the functions that decline in the geriatric population. These disease- and age-related factors affect the activities of daily living. As such, fall risk should be assessed in all vulnerable individuals. Assessing the financial and social resources of older adults  is also important, given the direct impact of these factors on their health. A multidisciplinary approach involving various professionals in the healthcare field is important in achieving comprehensive care for older adults.

Geriatric care includes the prevention and diagnosis of diseases, as well as the management of diseases, disabilities, and other health concerns in individuals ≥ 65 years of age. Special consideration is given when addressing multiple aspects that are specific to aging. Preventive measures such as vaccinations as well as cancer and disease screening are essential in this age group because of the high risk for infections and developing cancer and chronic diseases. A majority of older individuals have at least 1 chronic medical condition, which increases the likelihood of polypharmacy and adverse drug reactions. Vision, hearing, cognitive function, gait, and balance are among the functions that decline in the geriatric population. These disease- and age-related factors affect the activities of daily living. Assessing the financial and social resources of the elderly is also important, given the direct impact of these factors on their health. A multidisciplinary approach involving various professionals in the healthcare field is important in achieving comprehensive care for the elderly.

Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Pain is a subjective experience. Acute pain lasts < 3 months and typically has a specific, identifiable cause. Chronic pain lasts > 3 months and may exist in the absence of tissue damage or after healing would have been expected to occur. Pain management involves a combination of addressing underlying causes and using a systematic approach tailored to the clinical scenario.

The end of a patient’s life has been a difficult, complex, and often controversial aspect of medicine, because, historically, death has been conceptualized as a “failure” on the physician’s part. As our understanding of death has evolved, so has the physician's relationship to it, becoming a companion to the patient in their final moments. Moreover, experienced doctors understand that during the last days of a person’s life, the focus must be on maximizing quality of life rather than on prolonging it.

Opiates are drugs that are derived from the sap of the opium poppy. Opiates have been used since antiquity for the relief of acute severe pain. Opioids are synthetic opiates with properties that are substantially similar to those of opiates. Known for their remarkable efficacy, opioids induce their effects (analgesia, euphoria, and sedation) by interacting with opioid receptors (μ, κ, and δ) in the nervous system. Opiates/opioids have adverse effects that include respiratory depression, nausea and vomiting, decreased GI motility and constipation, tolerance, dependence, and addiction.

A number of changes normally occur in the aging individual. These changes affect neurocognitive function, organ function, senses, metabolism, sexual function, and sleep patterns. Of particular importance in aging adults, physicians need to understand the difference between normal cognitive decline associated with aging and pathologic decline. History, physical examination, imaging, laboratory studies, and neuropsychological testing may help determine possible causes of pathologic decline. Many conditions that cause pathologic cognitive decline have no cure, but symptoms may be managed with medications and a strong support system.

At some point in their careers, all physicians will have to deliver bad news to patients and/or their families. While this is a difficult and sensitive subject, there are communication techniques and protocols that can assist physicians in delivering bad news in a way that maintains and even strengthens the physician–patient relationship.

Delirium is a medical condition characterized by acute disturbances in attention and awareness. Symptoms may fluctuate during the course of a day and involve memory deficits and disorientation. There are many causes of delirium. Early recognition and accurate diagnosis constitute the 1st steps to adequate management. The primary goal of treatment is to identify and reverse the underlying cause and prevent future episodes. Pharmacotherapy is reserved for the most severe cases of agitation.