The Medical clinics of North America
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Mood disorders in the elderly are a growing source of morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, mood disorders in later life frequently are not diagnosed and treated. ⋯ Current treatments can help most older adults with mood disorders. Future treatments are promising, particularly for those with treatment-resistant depression.
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Med. Clin. North Am. · Sep 2006
ReviewFalls and their prevention in elderly people: what does the evidence show?
A large proportion of falls and fall injuries in older people is due to multiple risk factors, many of which probably can be modified or eliminated with targeted fall prevention interventions. These interventions must be feasible, sustainable, and cost effective to be practical for widespread use. The most promising prevention strategies involve multidimensional fall risk assessment and exercise interventions. Incorporating these intervention strategies whenever feasible into a fall prevention program seems to be the most effective means for fall prevention in older adults.
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Palliative care aims to improve quality of life and relieve suffering for patients with advanced illness and those close to them by specifically addressing communication, symptom management, coordination of care, psychosocial and spiritual realms, grief and bereavement support, and legal and ethical concerns. It has an interdisciplinary focus and may co-exist with curative and life-prolonging treatment. Palliative care is a key component of appropriate, routine medical care, especially for clinicians caring for older adults. ⋯ B and her loved ones in clarifying and coordinating whatever path comes to be. Older patients and their families face prolonged courses of chronic disease and gradual decline. Physicians caring for these patients need to be expert in the domains of palliative care so these patients and their families can receive the best quality of care while they are still living full lives and later as they approach the end of life.
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Testosterone deficiency occurs commonly in men as they grow older. This deficiency often is associated with a decline in sexual activity and a loss of muscle mass. ⋯ At present, no ideal form of testosterone replacement is available. Like the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, testosterone replacement in older men is a quality of life issue.