What is Geriatrics?
India is undergoing major demographic changes. As birth rates decline, we witness an increase in the geriatric population. At 80 million, we are home to the second largest geriatric population in the world. By the year 2020, it is expected that this number would double to a staggering 160 million- accounting for 13 percent of the entire population. Only China has more number of people above the age of 60- an age that is frequently used to identify the senior population.
Geriatrics is that branch of medicine which deals with the healthcare of the elderly. It aims to optimize the health, independence and quality of life for seniors
Neurologists treat disoders of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles.
Why is Geriatrics different?
Overwhelming evidence demonstrates that manifestation of symptoms in the elderly is different as compared to a younger age group. The symptoms are more subtle and are atypical. Structural and biological changes due to ageing account for these differences and as the human body ages, it behaves in an entirely different manner. A more comprehensive evaluation is required when managing an elderly patient.
Scientific research has shown that when dealing with problems in this age group, best outcomes are achieved when the elderly are managed in their own familiar environment. In effect, doctors have to be specially trained and need to apply unique management principles whilst dealing with the elderly. They should be able to differentiate ‘disease’ from the ‘normal ageing’ process because not all symptoms are due to disease.
Problems of the elderly are best dealt within a specialist geriatric unit- a unit comprising highly trained and specially qualified geriatricians, nursing staff, physiotherapists, dieticians, psychologists and occupational therapists.
What are the common problems faced by the elderly?
In the medical world, it is common to mention the five ‘I’s as the geriatric giants- Instability, Immobility, Incontinence and Impaired Intellect. However, this list is not exhaustive. There are a few problems which are more frequently encountered in this age group – these are diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, respiratory illnesses, bowel disturbances, visual and auditory problems, urinary and prostate problems, depression, psychological disorders, impaired memory and joint problems.
Of greater consequence is the fact that these problems do not appear in isolation, but manifest as a combination.
What does Apollo Hospital, Bangalore offer?
1. The Team
We have a team which specializes exclusively in geriatrics. Our physicians are internationally trained with specialist qualification in Geriatrics from institutions such as the Royal College of Physicians, London. They are joined in their effort by a team of skilled nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians, psychologists, speech and language therapists, pharmacists and occupational therapists
They form a multidisciplinary unit to provide comprehensive and intensive care for a short period of time, with special emphasis on early rehabilitation and discharge. They detect subtle and atypical presentation of diseases, construct broader differential diagnoses, account for underlying diseases and medication effects, assess cognitive and functional deficits, discuss with caregivers and plan managements accordingly.
2. The Geriatrics Programme at Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore
The Geriatric Programme that we offer is a combination of Patient Care and Patient Education
A. Patient Care
• Inpatients
• Advanced Emergency Services – capable of managing any medical emergencies
• Inpatient Geriatric Services with multidisciplinary assessment.
• Geriatric Rehabilitation Service.
• Outpatients
• Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments (CGA)- Outpatient consultation and follow ups
• Outreach Programme – a service wherein specialist geriatrics healthcare is provided at home.
• Geriatrics health check up packages.
• Memory clinic
• Hypertension clinic for seniors
• Falls/mobility clinic
B. Patient education
• Supervised health education
• Professional geriatric education programme
• Physical fitness programme
• Patient information booklets on various commonly occurring conditions (also available in CD/DVD format)
• Lecture series by our specialists
3. Other specialist departments working in liaison with Geriatrics
These departments include
• Cardiology
• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology
• Haematology
• Immunology
• Oncology
• Ophthalmology
• Gynaecology
• Rheumatology
• Orthopedics
• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Nephrology
• Psychiatry
• Respiratory medicine
• Pharmacology
• Physiotherapy
• Urology
• Radiology
• Anaesthetics
Some commonly occurring Geriatric problems for which we offer treatment and management
Cardiology
• Acute Coronary syndrome and other cardiac emergencies (‘Heart attack’)
• Coronary artery disease
• Syncope (‘Dizziness’/ ‘Lightheadedness’)
• Heart Failure
• Dysrhythmias (Irregular heart beat)
• Valvular Heart disease (Problems with the heart valve)
• Hypertension in the elderly (High blood pressure)
• Rehabilitation after Cardiac Events
• Peripheral Vascular Diseases (Blocked/insufficient blood supply to the limbs causing symptoms)
Respiratory/ Chest Medicine
• Dyspnoea (Breathing difficulties)
• Pneumonia (Chest infection)
• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease- Asthma/ Bronchitis)
• Pulmonary Embolism (Blood clots in the lungs)
• Pulmonary Tuberculosis
• Age Related Lung Diseases
• Lung Cancer
Nephrology
• Acute Renal Failure / Acute Kidney Injury (‘Kidney failure’)
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Dialysis
• Renal Transplant (‘Kidney Transplant’)
• Geriatric Nephrology
Urology
• Urinary infections
• Incontinence
Gastrointestinal
• Gastric and intestinal disorders
• Liver and biliary disorders (‘gallstones’)
• Constipation, diarrhea and incontinence
• Acute abdomen (obstructed bowels, abdominal infections etc.)
Neurology
• Altered Mental Status – Dementia/Delirium
• Headache in elderly
• Stroke
• Seizures/Epilepsy in Elderly
• Dizziness and Vertigo
• Parkinsonism and other movement disorders
• Speech and Language disorders
• Sleep disorders
Metabolic and Endocrine
• Dehydration and Electrolyte Disorders
• Hypothermia and Hyperthermia (‘very low’ or ‘very high’ body temperatures)
• Diabetes and Diabetic Emergencies
• Thyroid Emergencies
• Nutritional issues
• Obesity management
• Protein Energy Undernutrition in the elderly
Haematology
• Bleeding and Coagulation disorders
• Anemia in the elderly
Musculoskeletal and Rheumatology
• Back Pain
• Arthritis in its various forms
• Muscular disorders
• Falls
• Fractures and injuries
• Rehabilitation
Psychiatry
• Depression and Suicidal tendencies
• Anxiety disorders
• Alcoholism and other substance abuse in elderly
Dermatological and sensory disturbances
• Dermatological disorders (‘skin problems’)
• Visual impairment (‘poor eye sight’)
• Hearing and speech impairment (‘hearing loss’ in the elderly)
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