Elderly care

Abstract

Elderly care has replaced the previously used term ‘geriatrics’ and encompasses the general holistic care of the older person. With the ageing population, these specialist skills are in increasing demand. This chapter describes the common problems with which older patients present: instability, intellectual impairment, immobility, incontinence and constipation, infections, and iatrogenic complications, with an emphasis on the ensuing functional consequences. The role of the multidisciplinary team is outline. Focused approaches to the management of falls, delirium, and cognitive impairment are presented, as well as the pathophysiology of ageing and frailty. The chapter also includes a practical guide to the global geriatric assessment and discusses important end of life issues.