Geriatrics, also known as geriatric medicine, is a medical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases in later life. The goal of geriatric medicine is to enable older people to lead a life that is as independent, active and worthwhile as possible.
As we age, physical and mental functions change. Several illnesses frequently occur at the same time and influence one another. This is precisely where modern geriatrics comes in: it considers not just individual diseases, but the person as a whole – physically, mentally, socially and emotionally.
Geriatric medicine combines internal, neurological, orthopaedic and rehabilitative aspects and works closely with nursing staff, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and social services.
Which diseases does geriatric medicine treat?
Geriatrics deals with typical health complaints and diseases of later life. These include, among others:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Diabetes mellitus
- Osteoporosis
- Osteoarthritis and joint diseases
- Dementia and memory disorders
- Parkinson’s disease
- Effects of stroke
- Gait insecurity and risk of falling
- Incontinence
- Malnutrition
- Depression in old age
- Chronic pain
- Multimorbidity
Older people in particular often react more sensitively to medication or physical strain. For this reason, reviewing the existing medication – known as deprescribing – also plays a central role in geriatric treatment.
A holistic approach in geriatrics
An essential feature of geriatric medicine is its holistic treatment approach. The focus is not on the disease alone, but on preserving independence and quality of life.
For this purpose, a so-called geriatric assessment is often carried out. Various areas are examined, for example:
- Mobility and risk of falling
- Memory and concentration
- Everyday abilities
- Nutritional situation
- Medication intake
- Mental state
- Social support in everyday life
Based on these results, an individual treatment plan is drawn up that is precisely tailored to the patient’s needs. In addition, a frailty screening can help to identify at-risk patients at an early stage.
When is geriatric treatment advisable?
Geriatric co-treatment is particularly advisable when older people suffer from several diseases at the same time or when their independence is increasingly restricted – for example in the case of frailty syndrome or pronounced immobility in old age.
Repeated falls
Falls are among the most common causes of hospital admission in old age. Geriatrics analyses the causes and develops individual measures for fall prevention.
After operations or serious illnesses
After bone fractures – such as a femoral neck fracture in old age –, strokes or major operations, geriatric early rehabilitation helps to restore mobility and independence. The surgical risk in old age also plays an important role in treatment planning.
Memory problems and dementia
Early dementia diagnostics and targeted dementia therapies can help to preserve cognitive abilities for as long as possible and to relieve relatives. It is also important to distinguish between dementia and depression. At the first signs, a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) should also be clarified.
Loss of independence
When everyday tasks become increasingly difficult, geriatric medicine provides support with targeted therapeutic and social measures. In advanced stages of illness, palliative medicine in old age as well as an advance directive prepared in good time can provide important guidance.
Geriatric rehabilitation
Geriatric rehabilitation is aimed specifically at older patients following serious illnesses, operations or extended hospital stays.
The focus is on restoring physical and mental abilities as best as possible. Various medical disciplines work closely together in the process.
Geriatric rehabilitation includes, among others:
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Pain therapy
- Nutritional counselling
- Memory training
- Mobilisation and muscle building
An individually tailored therapy that is geared to the patient’s personal resources and needs is particularly important. Often, joint replacement in old age is also part of the rehabilitation concept – be it a total hip replacement from age 80 or a knee prosthesis in old age.
The importance of prevention in old age
Modern geriatric medicine focuses not only on treatment, but increasingly on prevention. Many complaints in old age can be positively influenced by early measures.
- Regular exercise
- A balanced diet
- Mental activity
- Social contacts
- Prevention of falls
- Control of chronic diseases such as atrial fibrillation or sarcopenia
- Regular preventive check-ups
An active lifestyle makes a decisive contribution to maintaining health and quality of life into old age. Attention should also be paid to preventing delirium in older people through targeted delirium prevention.
Interdisciplinary collaboration in geriatrics
The treatment of older people often requires the collaboration of various medical disciplines. Geriatrics therefore works closely with specialties such as internal medicine, neurology, orthopaedics, cardiology and psychiatry.
In addition, nursing staff, therapists and social workers play an important role in the treatment concept. In the field of geriatric traumatology, for example, close networking between trauma surgery and geriatrics is particularly important. Only through this interdisciplinary collaboration can comprehensive care be ensured.
Conclusion: preserving quality of life and independence
Geriatrics is much more than medicine for older people. It pursues the goal of preserving health, mobility and independence for as long as possible and of taking the individual needs of each patient into account.
Through modern diagnostics, holistic treatment concepts and interdisciplinary collaboration, geriatric medicine makes an important contribution to a self-determined life in old age.
