Geriatrics is a medical term that refers to the branch of medicine that focuses on the health and care of older adults. The term "geriatric" refers to individuals that are aged 65 and older. It encompasses the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and conditions that are common in the elderly population. Geriatrics focuses on dealing with the physical, mental, and social aspects of aging.
When aging, the cardiovascular, renal, and central nervous system are the most vulnerable and can manifest into reduced capacity due to stress like illness and injury (which they are more susceptible to).
Common ailments that affect the elderly community are:
Stefanacci, R. G., & Wasserman, M. R. (2024, April). Introduction to Geriatrics - Geriatrics. Merck Manual Professional Edition. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/geriatrics/approach-to-the-geriatric-patient/introduction-to-geriatrics
The elderly community is commonly affected by many physical ailments. These include a decline in vision and hearing, increased musculoskeletal issues like arthritis and osteoporosis, incontinence, and more.
Vision related issues are macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and decreased far sightedness. With hearing loss, there is an increase in high pitch sounds that affect communication and social interaction. The most common musculoskeletal issues rotate between osteoarthritis which is the degeneration of joint cartilage that leads to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Osteoporosis is the weakening of bones that increases the risk of fractures, that occurs often in the spine, hip, and wrist. Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass and strength that can also result in reduced mobility, balance, and increases the risk of falls.
Below are listed resources that educate and inform about common diseases and disorders that ail older adults.
Common mental conditions that affect the elderly community are:
Many mental conditions are misunderstood as being part of aging; however, these concerns and many more that ail the elderly need to be addressed and cared for by professionals.
Stefanacci, R. G., & Wasserman, M. R. (2024, April). Introduction to Geriatrics - Geriatrics. Merck Manual Professional Edition. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/geriatrics/approach-to-the-geriatric-patient/introduction-to-geriatrics
