Older Adult Population

Abstract

Geriatric medicine is a specialty of medicine concerned with physical, mental, functional, and social conditions in acute, chronic, rehabilitative, preventive, and end-of-life care in older patients. Geriatric palliative care integrates the complementary specialties of geriatrics and palliative care to provide comprehensive care for older patients entering the later stage of their lives and their families. This chapter provides physician assistants with an overview of palliative care in older adults, the differences between palliative care and hospice, the understanding and managing of geriatrics syndrome, symptom management in older patients and the complexities of end of life, discussion of goals of care, and communicating with geriatric patients and families.