Most older adults adapt successfully to the multiple developmental and social changes and late life depression that are common in late life. For those who experience distress or develop psychological symptoms, Cognitive-behavioral therapy offers an ideal treatment modality. The emphasis in cognitive-behavioral therapy on the acquisition of coping skills provides older adults with concrete strategies for dealing with areas of problematic adjustment. (more…)
Abuse of drugs and alcohol is not uncommon among the elderly. The high rate of prescribed medication use, increased physiologic ...
Cognitive-behavioral interventions approaches to managing the distress associated with physical/somatic complaints problems sho ...
Depression is the most common mental health problem in the elderly. While the incidence in community-dwelling older adults is n ...
Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions Research documenting the efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions in treating the psyc ...
Multiple losses are common as people age, including deaths of spouse, family, and friends. A less obvious form of loss involves ...
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The proportion of elderly at any age without any chronic conditions is small, and disease can trigger a cascade of events resulting in functional deficits and disability. An increase in the number of activities with which an elder has difficulty increases linearly with comorbidity, that is, coexistent medical conditions that further complicate not only the genesis of a functional deficit but also its treatment. For example, rehabilitation for a stroke for an individual who also has painful, degenerative changes in the foot and a low tolerance for stressful activity secondary to angina with exertion would present a particular rehabilitation challenge. Yet, this example encapsulates geriatric rehabilitation specialist’s emphasis on care and function, not cure and disease. (more…)
The overarching goal of physical therapy rehabilitation is to return the individual to as close to the premorbid level of funct ...
There are numerous basic Activities of Daily Living instruments that seek to quantify basic physical functions and obtain a numeric ...
Beneficiaries of the Medicare program have three rehabilitation-related benefits established by federal statute: physical thera ...
Most older adults adapt successfully to the multiple developmental and social changes and late life depression that are common ...
There are a number of issues that must be considered in geriatric pain assessment. The major issues that merit attention are pr ...
Aging begins before we are born, is a lifelong process and continues throughout life. Throughout the life course, differing life experiences influence our capabilities and well-being in our later years. The functional capacity of our biological systems increases during the first years of life, reaches its peak in early adult-hood and naturally declines thereafter. Throughout most countries (but not all), persons experience a long childhood and a long old age. These two lengthy developmental spans have provided great utility. Throughout history, it has enabled older persons to educate the younger and pass on values to them. (more…)
Social cognitions involve thoughts about others and thoughts about the self in relationship to others. When we consider cognitive a ...
The population of man aged over 65 will exceed the number of children under 5 years old in 2040, for the first time in history, ...
Aging is not only about old age. This is an ongoing process which will define the stages of biological, psychological and socia ...
The term education describes the process of acquiring abilities, skills, experiences, and knowledge systems as well as the resu ...
There are differences on what exactly contribute to quality of life on a personal level from person to person. Although many ol ...
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common neuropsychiatric condition that is frequently unrecognized and untreated, resulting in significant personal suffering and functional impairment. This article reviews the current state of knowledge of OCD epidemiology, clinical features and natural history, differential Obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnosis, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders treatment options, focusing on how Obsessive Compulsive affects elderly. (more…)
Only about 5–12% of people attending specialty Obsessive Compulsive Disorders OCD clinics are 60 years or older. However, OCD i ...
Because there are no placebo-controlled treatment studies of Obsessive Compulsive Disorders in elderly, Obsessive Compulsive Di ...
Compulsive hoarding disorder consists of three components: acquiring a large number of possessions, storing of items and not di ...
Research indicates that anxiety symptoms are more prevalent in elderly people than in any other age group, occurring at about t ...
Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions Research documenting the efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions in treating the psyc ...
Carotid sinus hypersensitivity ( more than 3-second pause or a decrease in systolic blood pressure = 50 mm Hg during carotid sinus massage) predominantly affects elderly patients, although the prevalence in the general population has not been precisely defined. In elderly patients with recurrent syncope, carotid sinus hypersensitivity has been reported in up to 35% of cases. Permanent pacing in patients with carotid sinus syndrome (carotid sinus hypersensitivity associated with syncope) is indicated. Observational and randomized studies have shown that recurrent symptoms are significantly reduced after permanent pacemaker implantation in patients with carotid sinus syndrome. (more…)
Neurocardiogenic Vasovagal syncope is more common in younger patients but also should be considered in elderly patients with unexpl ...
Aging is associated with progressive fibrosis of the sinoatrial node and AV conduction system, resulting in bradycardia, which may ...
Pacemaker therapy is indicated in patients with symptomatic bradycardia (syncope, presyncope, dyspnea, and exercise intolerance) co ...
There are intrinsic changes in the cardiac pacemaker cells and the cardiac conduction system associated with aging, which increase ...
Results from several recently completed trials have important implications for the primary prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death Preve ...
The majority associated with leading cause of deaths in America are due to medical health issues, not accidents, regardless of what your mother told you. The National Center for Health Statistics compiles the listing of killers and leading causes of death in America. A number of on the list you can not manage but others you can. There are several things that you can do to minimize getting the risk of the leading causes of death. If you eat right, exercise, don’t smoke, keep your weight under control, and manage your stress, then you are having a big change to live longer and having prolonged life than average American. (more…)
Cancer occurrence rates in a period of time for a given population is expressed in various ways. The incidence rate is a direct mea ...
Because it expresses my own orientation, I carry in my wallet a membership card to the Society for the Right to Die, which has impr ...
Obesity in the elderly is a major health crisis facing our population that may predispose the elderly to the same adverse healt ...
Results from several recently completed trials have important implications for the primary prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death Preve ...
Aerobic exercise is one form of exercise with low to moderate intensity which is done for a longer or a moderate duration. With ...
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) is the core daily personal care activities that are necessary in order for people to be able to live independently. Loss of mental functioning is measured by other standardized tests and referred to as cognitive impairment. Activities of Daily Livings are particularly important because along with cognitive impairment, and in some cases “medical necessity,” they are the mechanism used by the insurance industry to determine qualification for long-term care benefits and may also be used to determine qualification for admission to a nursing or assisted living home facility. (more…)
There are numerous basic Activities of Daily Living instruments that seek to quantify basic physical functions and obtain a numeric ...
In better facilities, the design of the building reflects the philosophy of promoting independence. Residents usually live either i ...
The proportion of elderly at any age without any chronic conditions is small, and disease can trigger a cascade of events res ...
The Costs of Senior Care Options When planning for our retirement, most of us allocate money into a 401K or another savings prog ...
The overarching goal of physical therapy rehabilitation is to return the individual to as close to the premorbid level of funct ...
There are a number of issues that must be considered in geriatric pain assessment. The major issues that merit attention are presence of comorbidities, mental status, depression in late life, limitations in ADLs, medications, and the importance of family and other support systems (see Depression; Social Networks, Support, and Integration). (more…)
Using the right medications can help in the treating of acute and chronic back pain. There are good drugs which physicians pres ...
The principal reversible dementias are metabolic. Hypothyroidism and exposure to industrial or environmental toxins should be c ...
Most older adults adapt successfully to the multiple developmental and social changes and late life depression that are common ...
Unfortunately, many dementias are partially or completely biologically irreversible. However, as mentioned previously, it is im ...
Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions Research documenting the efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions in treating the psyc ...
Unfortunately, many dementias are partially or completely biologically irreversible. However, as mentioned previously, it is important to recognize that all dementias are treatable. Some of these irreversible dementias are preventable. For example, automobile accidents in civilian populations and projectile wounds in military populations are common causes of brain damage that cause dementia. Some improvements can occur in these conditions for a period of time after the initial insult, but affected individuals are left with varying degrees of impairment and often severe limitations in function. (more…)
Alzheimer’s disease is a concept in evolution; it is considered by most to be a degenerative brain disease that was first describe ...
The principal reversible dementias are metabolic. Hypothyroidism and exposure to industrial or environmental toxins should be c ...
It is always important in the treatment of dementia to have clear therapeutic goals established in partnership with the patient ...
Neuroimaging is widely used in the evaluation of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Traditionally, imaging in Alzheimer’s disease has be ...
There are a number of issues that must be considered in geriatric pain assessment. The major issues that merit attention are pr ...
Obesity results from an imbalance between caloric consumption and caloric expenditure over a prolonged period. Weight gain occurs when there is a greater consumption of calories than expenditure. The expenditure of calories is complex and results from likely combinations of metabolic, genetic, and individual factors. Genetics and environment may predispose to weight gain, but it is only the consumption of calories in excess of utilization that can cause weight gain. (more…)
Weight loss improves many of the adverse health outcomes associated with obesity, including preventing or delaying the onset of ...
Adipose tissue fat is not simply a reservoir for excess nutrients, but rather an active and dynamic organ capable of expressing ...
Some medications exist for weight loss. These medications are moderately effective, although they often have side effects that ...
Concomitant with the global increase in obesity is the increase in the metabolic syndrome. The metabolic syndrome, also known ...
There are new strategies to address the 3 critical factors for body health: blood sugar, insulin and inflammation. These formul ...