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PubMed2001

[Ambulatory geriatric rehabilitation--assessment of current status and prospects].

Clinical geriatrics in Germany has evolved remarkably since 1990, when first concepts had been developed for establishing structures and facilities for the ambulatory rehabilitation of geriatric patients. However, achievements during the last 10 years were made only for inpatient geriatrics and geriatric day clinics. Geriatric outpatient rehabilitation (GOR) is still a "missing link" in the networked care for elderly patients in Germany and remains until today in a planning phase. The article is aimed at describing the current organisational status of geriatric rehabilitation in Germany and focuses on the question of where and how to fit in geriatric outpatient rehabilitation. Distinction criteria between the different types of geriatric rehabilitation as well as indications, goals, and organisational aspects of GOR are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in geriatric patients.

BACKGROUND: The results and advantages of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the geriatric population have received minimal attention. Several early reports related high conversion rates complications and mortality. This case series review is focused on the results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the geriatric population in a private practice environment. METHODS: The records of all patients undergoing cholecystectomy by the author over the past 12 years were reviewed. The entire series consists of 248 patients in whom 239 procedures were completed laparoscopically, with 9 patients converted to an open cholecystectomy. This report identifies 82 patients who were aged 65 years or older at the time of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The results of this series are reported in three progressive geriatric age groups: 65 to 74, 75 to 84, and 85 to 95 years. RESULTS: All 82 geriatric patients reported from this series were symptomatic from their gallbladder disease. A majority of all patients in all age groups were female. Gallstones were present in 77 patients, and 5 patients had a gallbladder ejection fraction of less than 35%. In this series of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 26.8% had an emergent procedure for acute cholecystitis and the remainder had an elective or semielective procedure for symptomatic cholecystitis. The majority of patients between the ages of 65 and 84 years had elective procedures whereas the majority of patients over age 85 had an emergent procedure. There were 2 deaths. The first death (age 86 years) was from extensive metastatic cancer from the gallbladder, and the second patient (age 91 years) died of sepsis and multiple system organ failure. Each patient in this entire series had an attempt at laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder. The conversion rate was 3.6% in the entire series of 248 patients and also 3.6% in the geriatric series. Ninety-one percent of the patients in this geriatric series were discharged home after only 24 to 48 hours of postoperative observation. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe procedure in the geriatric population. The procedure should be recommended for all geriatric patients who have symptomatic cholecystitis before the development of acute cholecystitis or severe fibrosis with dense adhesions from chronic cholecystitis.

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PubMed2001

Split-skin grafting with lidocaine-prilocaine cream: A meta-analysis of efficacy and safety in geriatric versus nongeriatric patients.

Although the efficacy and safety of the topical anesthetic EMLA cream (lidocaine-prilocaine) have been studied extensively in children and adults, no published studies have focused on geriatric patients (>/=65 years of age). The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of EMLA in geriatric versus nongeriatric adults. A pooled analysis was made from original data of six studies of EMLA cream for split-skin grafting. The studies selected had a sufficient number of geriatric and nongeriatric adults and a uniform, standardized pain stimulus (split-skin grafting), pain rating (visual analogue scale, verbal rating scale) and adverse event recording. A total of 182 geriatric patients (82 aged 65 to 74 years; 100 aged 75 to 96 years) and 221 nongeriatric EMLA-treated patients were evaluated. There was no difference in the efficacy of EMLA between geriatric and nongeriatric adults who underwent similar onset and duration of anesthesia. EMLA cream 1.5 g/10 cm2 applied for 2 to 5 hours had a similar anesthetic effect in both age groups. A dose of 3 g/10 cm2 gave no further benefit. In a geriatric population, EMLA cream provided effective cutaneous anesthesia for the cutting of split-skin grafts to the same extent as did infiltrated lidocaine. Adverse event frequency and severity were similar in geriatric and nongeriatric patients. Transient application site pallor, redness, and edema were the most frequent adverse events. Topical anesthesia with EMLA cream for split-skin grafting is as safe and effective in geriatric as in nongeriatric adults.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Geriatric patients improve as much as younger patients from hospitalization on general psychiatric units.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether geriatric patients aged 65 and older on general adult psychiatric units improve as much as younger patients, over what duration their improvement occurs, and their risk of readmission. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Inpatient psychiatric unit of an urban, university-affiliated, county hospital from January 1993 through August 1999. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 5,929 inpatients. MEASUREMENTS: Standardized, routine assessments by attending psychiatrists included the Psychiatric Symptom Assessment Scale (PSAS) on admission and discharge. Discharge scores, length of stay (LOS), and risk of readmission within 1 year were modeled for the groups using multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: Geriatric patients constituted 5% (n=299) of the 5,929 admissions. In multivariate analysis, geriatric status was not associated with discharge PSAS scores. Median LOS was longer for geriatric patients (16 days) than younger patients (10 days, P<.001), especially in older women (14 days) and geriatric patients with mild medical illness severity (13 days vs 11 days in those with moderate-to-severe medical illness). Geriatric patients were as likely to be readmitted within 1 year of discharge as younger patients. CONCLUSION: Geriatric patients on general inpatient psychiatry units improved as much as younger patients. Their longer LOS was associated with milder medical illness severity. There may be a role for more specialized care of elderly women or geriatric patients with mild to moderate medical illness to improve the efficiency of their care.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Could self-neglect in older adults be a geriatric syndrome?

Self-neglect in older adults is a complex phenomenon characterized by inattention to health and hygiene, typically stemming from an inability or unwillingness to access potentially remediating services. Some aspects of self-neglect clinically resemble geriatric syndromes (e.g., falling, incontinence). The literature on self-neglect was comprehensively reviewed and its quality evaluated in the context of considering its candidacy for a geriatric syndrome. MEDLINE (1966-2004) was searched using self-neglect as a keyword. Using a "snowball" sampling strategy, associated terms (e.g., Diogenes' syndrome) were combined, selecting relevant papers and frequently cited references, assessing each one using specific criteria. Its candidacy for consideration for a geriatric syndrome was assessed based on the quality of data in four domains: multifactorial etiology, shared risk factors with other geriatric syndromes, association with functional decline, and association with increased mortality. The 54 articles reviewed included 24 case series, 13 theoretical articles, 11 observational studies, and six reviews; these were of highly variable methodological quality. The strongest evidence that self-neglect may be a geriatric syndrome includes its often multifactorial etiology, its clear independent association with increased mortality, and the fact that two other geriatric syndromes (cognitive impairment and depression) are risk factors for self-neglect. Self-neglect in older adults is a prevalent problem that appears to have at least some features of a geriatric syndrome. Insofar as the concept of geriatric syndrome has been a useful clinical and research paradigm to create interventions for vulnerable older adults, and no such strategies are available for this vexing and understudied clinical problem, future research is warranted in this area.

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PubMed2004

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in general practice: results from a pilot study in Vorarlberg, Austria.

BACKGROUND: Most comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) programs refer to hospital-based settings. However the body of geriatric healthcare is provided by general practitioners in their office. Structured geriatric problem detection by means of assessment instruments is crucial for efficient geriatric care giving in the community. METHODS: We developed and pilot tested a German language geriatric assessment instrument adapted for general practice. Nine general practices in a rural region of Austria participated in this cross-sectional study and consecutively enrolled 115 persons aged over 75 years. The prevalence of specific geriatric problems was assessed, as well as the frequency of initiated procedures following positive and negative tests. Whether findings were new to the physician was studied exemplarily for the items visual and hearing impairment and depression. The acceptability was recorded by means of self-administered questionnaires. RESULTS: On average, each patient reported 6.4 of 14 possible geriatric problems and further consequences resulted in 43.7% (27.5% to 59.8%) of each problem. The items with either the highest prevalence and/or the highest number of initiated actions by the GPs were osteoporosis risk, urinary incontinence, decreased hearing acuity, missing pneumococcal vaccination and fall risk. Visual impairment was newly detected in only 18% whereas hearing impairment and depression was new to the physician in 74.1% and 76.5%, respectively.A substantial number of interventions were initiated not only following positive tests (43.7% per item; 95% CI 27.5% to 59.8%), but also as a consequence of negative test results (11.3% per item; 95% CI 1.7% to 20.9%). The mean time expenditure to accomplish the assessment was 31 minutes (SD 10 min). Patients (89%) and all physicians confirmed the CGA to provide new information in general on the patient's health status. All physicians judged the CGA to be feasible in everyday practice. CONCLUSION: This adapted CGA was feasible and well accepted in the general practice sample. High frequencies of geriatric problems were detected prompting high numbers of problem-solving initiatives. But a substantial number of actions of the physicians following negative tests point to the risks of too aggressive treatment of elderly patients with possibly subsequent negative effects.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Iron related indices in iron deficiency anemia of geriatric Korean patients.

The purpose of this study was to compare iron related indices in patients with iron deficiency anemia and chronic causative diseases between geriatric older than 65 years and adult, nongeriatric younger than 65 years groups. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) cases with chronic disorders from Youngdong Severance hospital from June, 1991 to April, 1994, older than 65 years (17 cases), and younger than 65 years (29 cases) were analysed with iron related indices. Mean hemoglobin was 7.8 +/- 2.2 g/dl in geriatric IDA and 8.0 +/- 1.8 g/dl in adult IDA without significant difference. RDW value was 19.5 +/- 2.6 in geriatric IDA and 18.4 +/- 3.2 in adult IDA with no significant difference. Serum iron and transferrin saturation between geriatric IDA were 22.7 +/- 12.3 ug/dl, 6.7 +/- 4.1% and 28.6 +/- 16.6 ug/dl, 7.1 +/- 4.4% in adult IDA with no significant difference, but TIBC was significantly lower (P = 0.011) in geriatric IDA than in adult IDA patients (357.2 +/- 83.2, 413.6 +/- 54.0 ug/dl). In normal elderly people, serum ferritin was 152.5 +/- 95.4 ng/ml in male and 111.1 +/- 54.1 ng/ml in female with range 19.8 approximately 367.7 ng/ml in male and 11.7 approximately 238.7 ng/ml in female and was higher than that of normal adult in both sexes (147.0 +/- 108.0, 35.3 +/- 20.5 ng/ml) (P = 0.045). Serum ferritin in geriatric IDA was 13.8 +/- 11.8 ng/ml and 5.7 +/- 4.0 ng/ml in adult IDA with significant difference(P = 0.001). The Upper margin for geriatric IDA was 37 ng/ml with 95% confidence interval. In the diagnosis of geriatric IDA with causative diseases, we should consider that TIBC does not increase and the upper margin for serum ferritin is suggested to increases up to 37 ng/ml.

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PubMed2003

Family members' experiences of the quality of geriatric care.

The quality of institutional geriatric care is a topical issue in Finland. The study to be described here is part of a Finnish project on the quality assessment and development of long-term geriatric care provided by the City of Helsinki. The health care division of the City of Helsinki authorized an outside survey of long-term geriatric care in the hospitals providing such care in 1998. Based on the results, recommendations concerning the development of geriatric care were issued. In the years 1999-2000, a further education programme was arranged for ward nurses, chief nurses and heads of profit centres concerning leadership in long-term geriatric nursing. A re-survey was conducted in 2001, using the same criteria of quality assessment. The purpose of this paper is to report on the quality of institutional geriatric nursing as evaluated by family members in 2001 and to compare the responses to those obtained in 1998. The results are presented as frequency and percentage distributions, means and medians and cross-tabulations. The responding family members were generally content with the care of their elderly relatives: 92% said they were very satisfied or satisfied with the care, and the average of the marks given for geriatric care was 8.3 (range 4-10). Family members were more content now than in 1998, when the corresponding figures were 86% and 7.3 (range 4-10). Nevertheless, the results still highlight certain aspects that should be improved and developed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1991

Opinions about management of geriatric syndromes given by internal medicine residents in two programs.

Internal medicine residents in two programs providing different amounts of training in geriatrics were surveyed in 1988 regarding their opinions about the management of four geriatric problems and two traditional internal medicine problems. The residents generally agreed that geriatric problems were legitimate concerns in a general internal medicine practice but demonstrated less confidence in the management of geriatric problems than in the management of traditional problems. Residents from the program that provided more extensive training in geriatrics evidenced greater support for nondiscriminatory care of elderly diabetics; otherwise there was no convincing evidence of differences between the two programs. The authors conclude that educational efforts in geriatrics need to target trainees' confidence in the management of geriatric problems.

California↗
PubMed1993

HMO medical directors' perceptions of geriatric practice in Medicare HMOs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which health maintenance organizations (HMOs) with Medicare risk contracts utilize geriatricians and selected aspects of "organized" geriatric practice. DESIGN: A telephone interview survey. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-two percent (64 of 78) of the HMOs with Medicare risk contracts as of June 1991. MEASUREMENTS: Questions to medical directors of the Medicare HMOs on (1) the presence of geriatricians, (2) the roles of geriatricians, and (3) "organized" geriatric practice. MAIN RESULTS: Fifty-three percent of the Medicare HMOs have one or more geriatricians, but only 19% have attempted to recruit geriatricians. Geriatricians provide primary care in 76% of the HMOs with geriatricians and serve as specialist consultants in 61%. Geriatricians are reported to be used actively in 32% of the HMOs that have them. The proportion of HMOs utilizing "organized" geriatric activities ranges from a high of 58% for a general health information questionnaire to a low of 12% for a special form(s) for comprehensive geriatric assessment. While the percentage of HMOs using each of the "organized" strategies is higher for the HMOs with geriatricians than for those without, this is statistically significant for only one strategy--the use of special approaches or formal protocols for problems frequently found in the elderly (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The perception of Medicare HMO medical directors is that about half of the HMOs utilize geriatricians and that there is evidence of "organized" geriatric practice. However, it appears that geriatricians and many of the elements of organized geriatric practice are used to a much lesser extent than experts recommend. Medicare HMOs must themselves test the various components of organized geriatric practice in order to determine their utility.

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PubMed1997

A university-affiliated community hospital inpatient geriatrics program functioning in an administrative and educational capacity.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate an unusual form of inpatient geriatric assessment with unique outcomes. DESIGN: A prospective evaluation of patients admitted to a community hospital-based inpatient geriatrics unit utilizing traditional members of the assessment team along with educational assessment of nurses and satisfaction profiles of patients and/or families. SETTING: A non-profit community hospital in Northeast Washington, DC. PARTICIPANTS: All patients older than age 62 admitted to the 42-bed Geriatric Unit during a 4 1/2 year time period. MEASUREMENTS: Number of total and category recommendations taken by attending physicians from the Inpatient Geriatric Assessment Team, periodic evaluation of unit nurses' geriatric knowledge base and certification, and patient satisfaction through periodic surveys. RESULTS: More than 4500 patients have been evaluated during the past 4 1/2 years. The number of recommendations taken by attending physicians has averaged 31.3 to 50.7% during four consecutive chart reviews involving the first 25 consecutive patients for the month each performed every six months (n = 100). The average age of patients evaluated was 77.2 (minimum of 62 and maximum of 97); 67% were females and 33% males. The average number of recommendations communicated per patient was 4.1, and the average number adhered to 1.6/patient. The overall knowledge base and certification in geriatric nursing has increased significantly over a 2.5-year period. Composite monthly unit patient satisfaction survey scores increased as well. CONCLUSIONS: The program is unique in its development, limitations, and outcomes. Other than the cost of limited geriatric nurse practitioner and faculty salary support, the program has been implemented using only current hospital department personnel. The role of the assessment team is to educate attending nurses and staff physicians. It has not yet been possible to measure objective outcomes. However, the current program also serves the purpose of introducing a new medical program to a community hospital in a nonthreatening way and offers opportunities for research. In addition, the program offers further opportunity for expansion and change.

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PubMed2005

Geriatrics training and education for nongeriatrician faculty: the Dean's Faculty Scholars in Aging Program.

The University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia implemented the Dean's Faculty Scholars in Aging (DFSA) Program in 2001 to strengthen the knowledge of geriatrics of nongeriatrician faculty members. The primary indicator of strengthening physicians' geriatrics knowledge was the development of new educational experiences by physicians in the DFSA Program. Twenty-six nongeriatrician faculty in seven departments were recruited to participate as scholars. Most scholars were in key educational positions, including assistant deans, department chairs, and clerkship and residency directors. Scholars received special training to develop geriatrics educational experiences based on their medical specialty and interests. Training encouraged cross-departmental collaboration. Scholars also had access to resources, including professional geriatric educators. Funds were available to support development of educational experiences and for a small amount of salary support. Since the program was implemented, 36 new geriatric experiences have been developed, 29 of the 36 were implemented, and 11 of the 36 were evaluated. Experiences included an elective for residents in the care of older patients in the emergency room and a required hospice rotation in the psychiatry clerkship for third-year medical students. All scholars developed a geriatrics educational experience, and most implemented one. This suggests that scholars demonstrated successful progress in geriatrics training.

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PubMed1992

[Experiences of a geriatric team attached to a hospital].

The Geriatric Team in Glostrup Hospital was established on 1. Oct. 1990. The object of the team is to carry out relevant and rapid geriatric assessment by means of a multidisciplinary structure where hospitalized persons and persons living at home are concerned. During the first six months, 247 patients were referred to the team (83% from other hospital departments and 17% from general practitioners). Subsequently, 116 patients (47%) were referred to the subacute geriatric section and 28 (12%) to the other geriatric departments of the hospital. Out of the 41 patients who were assessed in their homes after referral by the general practitioner, treatment could be concluded in 22 (54%) without hospitalization. The close association with the other geriatric functions and the other departments of the hospital has proved decisive for the function of the team. The extroverted and rapid treatment has implied that the geriatric department has become much more significant in the hospital. As compared with the situation previously, many more geriatric problems could be relieved in the other departments. Parallel with consolidation of the internal function in the hospital, the aim of the team is further strengthening of cooperation with the partners in the primary community with the object of treatment the majority of elderly persons in their own homes.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Geriatrics in the Danish health care system.

After having occupied a modest place in the Danish health system for many years, geriatrics now shows signs of stability and growth. Instruction in geriatrics has been strengthened by the creation of a professorship in 1991. Structural changes, particularly in the Copenhagen hospital system since 1987, have given geriatrics a more prominent place, and from 1992, there will be more emphasis on this field. There has been increased interest in geriatrics in the primary health care sector on the part of general practitioners and home nurses. Geriatrics in the hospital sector takes the form of separate departments in large acute hospitals and independent hospital units and elsewhere is seen as a part of departments of internal medicine. In Denmark, the geriatric patient is a patient with many concomitant physical and psychic illnesses and the resultant social problems. Acute organ specific problems are generally taken care of outside of geriatric departments.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

Medical oncology and geriatric medicine: is it time for fellowship integration?

Although training programs exist in both medical oncology and geriatrics (approved by the American Board of Internal Medicine), neither is adequate to ensure an appropriate supply of physicians to assume a leadership role in the treatment of the increasing number of geriatric patients who have or will develop a malignancy. A proposal for offering a 3-4 year program leading to dual certification is under consideration. A careful review of both the medical oncology training program and added qualifications in geriatrics has identified key components of each that can serve as a basis for a combined program. Such a program can encourage research into behavior modification of existing biases in referring geriatric oncology patients for treatment as well as a better understanding of the biology of aging, addressing in particular the pharmacology of anticancer agents in this unique population. It is anticipated that pilot projects will be undertaken to develop common pathways for developing combined programs in medical oncology and geriatrics. The second phase will include recruitment of selected candidates who are interested in an academic career in geriatric oncology. A need for additional academic-based geriatric oncologists has been identified that can address the anticipated increase in the incidence and presence of cancer in an aging population. Such a cadre of specialists will be in an excellent position to recommend changes in the current (mostly negative) approach to the management of cancer in patients age > 65 years.

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PubMed2003

Geriatric medicine in the European Union: future scenarios.

The differences in training and services in geriatric medicine between European Union member countries raise some questions: what is a geriatrician, what is geriatric medicine, what will be the future development of the specialty and how does it interact with other medical specialties? To find answers to these questions, a questionnaire was sent to a selected group of 122 geriatricians. The response rate was 60%. A description has been given of what is a geriatrician and what is geriatric medicine. Based on data from the literature and the answers of the respondents six future scenarios were designed. The six scenarios are: the 'healthy old people', the 'adapted specialties', the 'general practitioner + additional training', the 'co-ordinator geriatrician', the 'community geriatrician' and the 'hospital geriatrician'. The answers of the respondents gave doubts whether general practitioners are able to provide the full range of services for geriatric patients in the community. A small majority of the respondents opted for a division of the specialty into community geriatric medicine and hospital geriatric medicine. Such a division offers good opportunities to raise the quality of medical services and to reduce age-related treatment limitation. It is expected that some aspects of geriatric medicine will be included in the training of other specialties and some GPs will obtain additional training. The collected data can not be considered as a representation of the ideas of the European Union geriatricians. However, they may contribute to the discussion on the national and European level about the future of the specialty.

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PubMed2006

Perspectives on the future of geriatric medicine.

The following comments were presented to the 20th anniversary celebration of the geriatric medicine fellowship training program at the Baylor College of Medicine in the Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas, on June 24, 2005. The author, who was the first graduate of the geriatric medicine training program at Baylor, proposes that geriatrics is at a critical juncture and that the voice and identity of geriatric medicine should be that of advocacy for our patients, and that in such a role geriatric medicine is well suited to become the "soul of medicine." She encourages all geriatricians to read the report of the Task Force on the Future of Geriatric Medicine and to look for opportunities to personally be involved in implementing the recommendations. She suggests that since our visions of the future are often only caricatures of our past, we must be creative and dream big dreams of what the future may hold. She challenges each of us to get involved in actively creating the future of geriatric medicine.

Forecasting↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessment of geriatric knowledge: an online tool for appraising entering APN students.

As the percentage of elderly in the U.S. rises, the need for primary health care for the aging population increases. Knowledge of special characteristics of older persons, as well as demographics of the aging population, resources and principles of care are important in the provision of effective, professional primary health care by advanced practice nurses. In response to this increasing need for geriatric health care expertise, a tool was developed to evaluate basic geriatric knowledge of students entering advanced practice nursing study, Self Assessment of Geriatric Knowledge. The Self Assessment, derived from AACN's recommended geriatric competencies for BSN graduates, may be accessed on-line. Immediate test results are received on-line. Tests completed by 158 advanced practice students over a three year period showed geriatric knowledge deficits: myths of aging, prevention strategies and risk factors of elders; roles and responsibilities for care of elderly persons in the community; health policies that affect elder care; and, demographics of the geriatric population. These data may contribute to faculty awareness of curricular needs for preparing students for competent geriatric nursing care of the growing older population.

California↗