Many of the residents are likely to have some degree of urinary incontinence or dysfunction. Urinary incontinence in this setting should not be viewed as inevitable. With good management it may be preventable. Incontinence is a symptom of underlying problems.
“Moving a patient relieves bedsores:” it sounds obvious today, but it took the work of an innovative nurse in the 1950s working with a group of elderly patients to realise it. Bedsores, or pressure ulcers are lesions caused by a number of factors including unrelieved pressure.
“There is no doubt that the occasional scandal does an enormous amount for a social service.” Sir Keith Joseph in the House of Commons 12/7/1971
Dr Eileen Burns looks at how Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, better communication and palliative care principles can improve the quality of end of life care for older people, and asks: what constitutes a good death?
Parkinson's Disease is one of the commonest neurological conditions to affect older people. It is a frequent cause of falls, fractures, and hospital admission. As such, it is a costly disease, especially in the later stages.
Infectious diseases account for a significant proportion of hospital admissions and deaths in the elderly. Unfortunately the immunological response to vaccines in older individuals is less than that in younger adults. We assess best practice in immunisation programmes among older people.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards are protections for adults who lack mental capacity to consent to, say, admission to hospital or a care home for treatment or care. Caroline Cooke and Premila Fade assess why they are being reviewed and the Law Commission's proposals.
Older patients frequently have dysphagia resulting from acute or chronic illnesses. Dysphagia management requires a collaborative approach because of the complexities of older patients' needs, and geriatricians have an important role to play in overseeing this condition.
NHS Scotland’s vision for 2020 is that we will “live longer healthier lives at home”.
The incidence of under nutrition among patients admitted to hospitals in UK is around 28% and is 25% greater in older people. Under nutrition results in longer lengths of stay in hospital. In care homes, 30% of residents were found to be undernourished.
Presentations from our recent conference, Living and dying well with frailty which took place on the 6th March 2018
Diabetes is the commonest metabolic long term condition in older people and is characterised by a high rate of vascular complications and subsequent disability, frequent hospital admissions, and increased institutionalisation.