Twelve principles to assess in clinical approach to the older person

Abstract

Approaching an older person (>60yrs) is full of challenges for a clinician. One of the major challenges is to treat multiple diseases in a single individual unlike in middle aged. The second challenge is effective communication skills, among which Listening is the most important, and third challenge is that the presentations of diseases have atypical symptoms. The principles discussed here are how to make a clinical approach simple, more practical, less time consuming, problem oriented and to be part of solutions. The approach in older person differs in view of multidimensional problems for which multidisciplinary team is required. The approach also consists of five dimensions namely physical, mental, economic, social and spiritual in a given elderly patient. The main goals should be to improve Functional capacity and provide good Quality of life. The most important factor encountered in geriatric practice that the elderly tend to owe the symptoms to ageing. In view of so many diversities, this article provides basic principles which may assist the clinician to have a holistic approach.