Session 4a: Geriatric Syndromes – Essentials
1. Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
Explain how the geriatric population is best viewed as a subset of the adult population often requiring unique and different approaches to otherwise common issues
Describe how both prescription and over-the-counter medications, while given with the best intentions, can negatively impact elder wellness
Identify risk factors for falls in elders and describe ways to mitigate them
Describe the impact of cognitive impairment, from diagnosis to treatment, on elders and their support systems
2. Readings
Tinetti ME. Clinical practice. Preventing falls in elderly persons. New England Journal of Medicine. 348(1):42-9, 2003 Jan 2.
Cummings JL. Alzheimer's disease. New England Journal of Medicine. 351(1):56-67, 2004 Jul 1.
3. Additional References
Falls. Merck Manual of Geriatrics
Delirium and Dementia. Merck Manual of Geriatrics