All pdf BH Issue 33 Eng

are a group that changes in every aspect – whether
physically, mentally, or socially due to aging. Therefore,
they need a special kind of care,” explains Dr. Lily.
In order to deliver the best geriatric care to older
people of various ages, we divide them into three groups:
The youngest old (60 to 69 years) are
those who have just entered older age,
most of whom are still healthy, though
some may have underlying diseases
such as diabetes or elevated blood
pressure. Care for them aims to assess
and prevent the future risk of diseases
such as osteoporosis, dementia, stroke,
or heart disease.
The middle old (70 to 85 years) is when the presence
of chronic diseases starts to increase, while the ability
to self-care starts to decrease. People in
this range, generally, want to rely on
themselves as much as possible. The
goal of care is to maintain a good
quality of life, paying particular
attention to skeletal and muscular
problems. Care includes reducing joint
degeneration from arthritis and helping
maintain mobility. There is also a focus on nutrition,
especially if people have chewing or swallowing
problems.
The oldest old (86 years and older) is
the time of increasing dependence on
family or caregivers for daily living
and self-care. Care for this group
includes training the caregivers on
nutrition and physical therapy. The
geriatrician and team also serve as
care coordinator between the patient
and their relatives, other caregivers, and other
physicians involved.
the patients’ health and ability to take care of themselves.
A fit 85 year old may be stronger and healthier than a frail
75 year old.”
Medical care for the elderly
Whichever the age group, a significant characteristic of
geriatric care is the coexistence of various diseases and
conditions. Therefore, geriatric medicine requires a holistic
approach to tackle these simultaneous health problems
safely and efficiently.
“To illustrate,” Dr. Lily says, “if an elderly patient has
dizziness, the caregiver knows he or she must call a doctor
but might not know in which field of medicine. Many things
cause dizziness: vertigo, reduced blood flow to the brain,
falling blood pressure, anemia or stress.”
Duplicated medication is a frequent problem because
elderly patients commonly have several doctors treating
several diseases. This can lead to the patient receiving
duplicate prescriptions. “But at Bumrungrad, we have a
clinical pharmacist who reviews all the patient’s medications
comprehensively to avoid duplicate treatments or drug
interactions. Additionally, our pharmacists are aware that
certain drugs are inappropriate for geriatric patients because
of side effects like depression, confusion, or causing falls,”
Dr. Lily says.
Specialists in geriatric medicine work as a collaborative,
interdisciplinary team, careful to ensure that they don’t
prescribe treatments that conflict or duplicate. “Successful
elderly medical care does not consist of individual doctors
working separately, but rather, together as a team.”
Dr. Lily says. “They assess all areas: general health, mental
and emotional health, nutrition, and even the patient’s
living environment, in reducing the risk of falls.”
“At Bumrungrad we place the older person at the center
of our geriatric program and care for them as if they were
part of our own family.” Dr. Lily says. “With the determination
to have good health, along with the assistance of our geriatric
program, the elderly can live long, healthy lives.”
“Age-oriented categorization is not always necessary,
however,” Dr. Lily says. “In practice, doctors base care on
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