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GERIATRICS

GERIATRICS. OBJECTIVES. DEFINITION. Geriatrics is a sub-specialty of internal medicine and family medicine that focuses on health care of elderly people. Geriatrics is the care of aged people. Gerontology is the study of the aging process itself.

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GERIATRICS

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  1. GERIATRICS

  2. OBJECTIVES

  3. DEFINITION • Geriatrics is a sub-specialty of internal medicine and family medicine that focuses on health care of elderly people. • Geriatrics is the care of aged people. • Gerontology is the study of the aging process itself. • Geriatrician is physician who specializes in the care of elderly people.

  4. GERIATRIC GIANTS • The so-called geriatric giants are the major categories of impairment that appear in elderly people, especially as they begin to fail. • These include: • immobility • instability • incontinence • impaired intellect/memory.

  5. IMMOBILITY • Muscle weakness, weight loss and osteoporosis. • The effects of immobility are rarely confined to only one body system. • It may later cause a wide range of complications.

  6. HOW TO USE A CANE • Proper Positioning • The top of your cane should reach to the crease in your wrist when you stand up straight. • Your elbow should bend a bit when you hold your cane. • Hold the cane in the hand opposite the side that needs support.

  7. HOW TO USE A CANE • Walking • When you walk, the cane and your injured leg swing and strike the ground at the same time. • To start, position your cane about one small stride ahead and step off on your injured leg. • Finish the step with your normal leg.

  8. HOW TO USE A CANE • Stairs • To climb stairs, grasp the handrail and step up on your good leg first, with your cane in the hand opposite the injured leg. • Then step up on the injured leg. • To come down stairs, put your cane on the step first, then your injured leg, and finally the good leg, which carries your body weight.

  9. CANE

  10. HOW TO USE AN WALKER • A pickup walker with four solid prongs on the bottom may give you the most stability. • The walker lets you keep all or some of your weight off of your lower body as you take your steps. • You use your arms to support some of the weight.

  11. HOW TO USE WALKER • The top of your walker should match the crease in your wrist when you stand up straight. • Do not hurry when you use a walker.

  12. HOW TO USE AN WALKER • Walking • First, put your walker about one step ahead of you, making sure the legs of your walker are level to the ground. • With both hands, grip the top of the walker for support and walk into it, stepping off on your injured leg.

  13. HOW TO USE AN WALKER • Touch the heel of this foot to the ground first, then flatten the foot and finally lift the toes off the ground as you complete your step with your good leg. • Don't step all the way to the front bar of your walker. • Take small steps when you turn.

  14. HOW TO USE WALKER • Stairs • Never try to climb stairs or use an escalator with your walker.

  15. WALKER

  16. WHEELCHAIR • Manual wheelchairare best for a person with a strong and mobile (movable) upper body (arms, shoulders, back and trunk). • Battery-powered wheelchairSome people are not able to move themselves and need a battery-powered wheelchair.

  17. Move your wheelchair on clear floors. • Floors must be clean, dry, well-lit, and free of objects including throw rugs. • All electrical cords should be moved out of the way.

  18. When entering an elevator, back into the elevator instead of moving forward into the elevator. Backing into the elevator will allow you to more easily use the elevator control panel.

  19. Try to stay to the right side of hallways and sidewalks. This gives people room to move around you • Slow down when you get to corners. Check for people or objects that may cause an accident. • Be careful when moving over ramps or curbs to avoid falling over.

  20. WEELCHAIR

  21. INSTABILITY • As you age, you may notice that your body does not respond as well to instability because systems that control balance begin to deteriorate. • You may trip stepping off a curb or slip getting out of the tub

  22. INSTABILITY • Tai Chi • Tai Chi is a form of slow martial arts exercise that has been demonstrated to be very beneficial to the senior population for improving balance and reducing falls.

  23. IMPROVE STABILITY • Balance Board • A balance board is an inexpensive piece of equipment that can improve stability. There are many types, but the basic board with a non-rolling bottom is the best if you are just starting out. Balance boards wobble side to side and train the body from the core down to the muscles in the feet

  24. IMPROVE STABILITY

  25. PRESBYOPIA • Vision problems lead to falls from tripping over unseen objects, medicine being taken incorrectly because the written instructions could not be read, and finances being mismanaged.

  26. PRESBYCUSIS • Hearing problems can lead to social isolation, depression, and dependence as the person is no longer able to talk to other people, receive information over the telephone, or engage in simple transactions, such as talking to a person at a bank or store.

  27. INCONTINENCE • Elderly urinary incontinence can take several forms. • Some people may only leak urine occasionally • Some may constantly dribble urine • Some experience a complete lack of both bladder and bowel control.

  28. INCONTINENCE • Treatments and Practical Management • After a diagnosis is made, a treatment for elderly urinary incontinence can include: • behavioral therapy • medications • medical devices such as pessary, urethral inserts • surgery

  29. ELDERLY CARE

  30. SLEEP PROBLEMS • Sleep problems in the elderly include: • Hypersomnia is a disorder characterized by excessive amounts of sleepiness. • Insomnia, the inability to get the amount of sleep you need to wake up feeling rested and refreshed

  31. delirium, impaired intellect, decreased cognition, psychomotor complaints, increase accidents, falls, and financial issues.[15]

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