Geriatric Care - Care of the Aged

The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women aged 65 and older be screened for osteoporosis, as well as women aged 60 and older who are at increased risk for an osteoporosis-related fracture. However, the decision whether to have a bone density test is best made between a patient and his or her geriatrician / doctor.

The Benefit of Exercise in Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: The Finalex Trial Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias have impacts far beyond cognitive function. Alzheimer’s patients also experience steady declines in physical function. Over time, these patients lose the ability to do basic activities of daily living such as getting dressed or bathing, becoming dependent on family caregivers. Walking ability also steadily declines. For this reason, patients with Alzheimer’s disease fall frequently. A landmark study published in JAMA Internal Medicine demonstrates that a patient-centered exercise intervention administered by trained physical therapists can slow the physical deterioration of Alzheimer’s Disease. The investigators randomized 210 patients (average age= 78) with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s Disease to either usual care or one of two exercise intervention groups as follows: Home Exercise: A physical therapist visited the patient’s home for one hour twice a week for

Diabetes Mellitus is the most common chronic disease among the Geriatric Population. It is present in up to 18% of people older than 65 years. The Geriatric Population has to spend four times more on health annually as compared to non diabetics. The diagnosis and treatment of the Geriatric Population has its own challenges. Due to the physiological changes occurring due to the aging process, the elderly people may not present with classical symptoms. This group is also different in many other ways - 1. Prevalence of complications in older population is much more ; 2. Older people have an increased prevalence of functional disability & comorbid illness that contribute to the complexity of managing diabetes. 3. Sometimes, older people are more prone to complications of treatment. 4. Special evaluation and goals of treatment need to be devised for the aged population. The treatment of diabetics in older people needs not only attention to the common diabetic complications but also to