Geriantology

Understanding and Treating Pain in the Elderly

Understanding and Treating Pain in the Elderly – MM1606

Painful conditions are among the most common reasons for older people to present for medical attention. Pain is not a normal part of ageing; its high prevalence in older people is secondary to the burden of pathology. A person’s response to analgesics is variable, with many being poor or non-responders.

Ineffective or poorly tolerated analgesics should be withdrawn before another medication is trialled. A multidisciplinary approach is recommended when usual approaches have failed as no single therapy has been shown to alleviate persistent pain in most patients.

Modern Medicine – June 2016

June 30, 2016 by Geriantology Gerontology Pain

Diabetes Management in Aged Care Facilities | Meeting the Challenges

Diabetes Management in Aged Care Facilities | Meeting the Challenges – MM1606

Diabetes is a common disease that GPs will encounter in patients in institutional care, particularly residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Elderly patients with diabetes benefit from a team approach to management.
The approach to diabetes management should be tailored to each individual patient. Institutions are not all the same: in-house staffing, supports and services vary and need to be well understood to manage chronic diseases effectively. In elderly people with a short life expectancy, excessively tight diabetes control is not recommended. De-prescribing can be difficult but should be considered for every older person with diabetes in institutional care.

Modern Medicine – June 2016

June 30, 2016 by Diabetes Geriantology Gerontology
Verified by ExactMetrics