{"id":1163,"date":"2021-08-03T10:24:36","date_gmt":"2021-08-03T04:54:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drkmh.com\/blogs\/?p=1163"},"modified":"2023-01-05T09:56:02","modified_gmt":"2023-01-05T04:26:02","slug":"geriatrics-faqs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drkmh.com\/blogs\/geriatrics-faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"GERIATRICS FAQ&#8217;s"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"WordSection1\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt;\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"blockquote hidden\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span><b>Q:<\/b>What is Geriatrics?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Ans:<\/b>Geriatrics refers to specialized medical care for older adults, especially for the senior citizens (elderly people after the age of 60 years) in India.<\/p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span><b>Q:<\/b>Why do you need Geriatric Care?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Ans:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li>Life expectancy has increased. Hence, elders aged 60 years and above are increasing in numbers.<\/li>\n<li>Diseases interact with aging effects and cause old age-related syndromes. Hence, the effects of aging must be considered during the diagnosis and treatment of senior citizens.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span><b>Q:<\/b>Why do you need to go to a \u201cSpecialist\u201d for Elderly People?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Ans:<\/b>A Geriatrician is an elderly care\/senior citizen specialist who will:\n<ul>\n<li>Differentiate problems due to pure aging and problems due to diseases.<\/li>\n<li>Analyze the interaction between different drugs and avoid adverse drug effects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span><b>Q:<\/b>When to visit the Geriatrician?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Ans:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Chronic Metabolic Disorders<\/b> \u2013\n<ul>\n<li>Treatment of Chronic Metabolic Disorder such as Diabetes Mellitus, Hypothyroidism, Hypertension &#038; Dyslipidemia in elderly people is different and needs special attention with close follow up.<\/li>\n<li>If you started having diabetes before the age of 60, following are recommended after you cross the age of 60:\n\t<ul>\n\t\t<li>You must regularly review your medicines once in 3 months with any consultant as some diabetic medicines have more side effects after the age of 60, even if they suited you earlier.<\/li>\n\t\t<li>You should do a fundoscopy and neuropathy testing every year after 65 years of age.<\/li>\n\t<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>If you have hypertension, you should undergo an electrocardiogram annually as a part of your routine health check-up.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/li>\n<li><b>Delirium<\/b> \u2013 A serious disturbance in mental abilities that results in confused thinking and reduced awareness of surroundings.<\/li>\n<li><b>Depression<\/b> \u2013 A mood disorder characterized by loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.<\/li>\n<li><b>Dementia<\/b> \u2013 A chronic or persistent disorder of the mental process caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes and impaired reasoning.<\/li>\n<li><b>Incontinence<\/b> \u2013 It is the lack of voluntary control over urination or defecation.<\/li>\n<li><b>Orthostatic Hypotension<\/b> \u2013 A form of low blood pressure that happens when standing up from sitting or lying down.<\/li>\n<li><b>Falls<\/b> \u2013 An event of falling or off something.<\/li>\n<li><b>Dizziness<\/b> \u2013 An altered sense of balance and place, possibly described as lightheaded, feeling faint or as if head is spinning.<\/li>\n<li><b>Osteoporosis<\/b> \u2013 A condition in which bones become weak and brittle.<\/li>\n<li><b>Polypharmacy<\/b> \u2013 It refers to the use of multiple medications in a patient, commonly being on 5 or more medicines.<\/li>\n<li><b>Multiple Joint Pain<\/b> \u2013 Painful joints especially during movements.<\/li>\n<li><b>Frailty<\/b> \u2013 It is a state of increased vulnerability resulting from aging associated decline in reserve and function across multiple physiological symptoms.<\/li>\n<li><b>Failure to thrive<\/b> \u2013 It is a condition which includes weight loss, decreased appetite, poor nutrition, and inactivity.<\/li>\n<li><b>Elder Abuse<\/b> \u2013 Causing physical injury, avoiding, or neglecting to provide basic needs &#038; care required, causing mental stress to the elder persons.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span><b>Q:<\/b>How do you know if you have Memory Loss that requires to be examined by a specialist? How to handle it?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Ans:<\/b>If your answer to any 4 of the following questions is \u201cyes\u201d, then you could have Memory Loss that requires specialist opinion:\n<ul>\n<li>Do you often lose or misplace your keys or spectacles?<\/li>\n<li>Do you repeatedly ask people &#8220;What day is it today?&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Do you depend completely on a to-do lists to perform your daily activities?<\/li>\n<li>Do you find it difficult to follow the plot of a movie or tv program?<\/li>\n<li>Do you often get lost or find it difficult to navigate your way back to your home?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n<p>Recommendations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Take a <b>Memory Assessment Test<\/b> with us. Based on the test results, the Geriatrician can help with even more personalized solutions for you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Few tips includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>To do some brain exercises, try puzzles and sudoku<\/li>\n<li>To start maintaining a journal or diary.<\/li>\n<li>To list out all the tasks, routines &#038; remainders and follow it up.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><span><b>Q:<\/b>What is Multiple Join Pain? What should I do if I have it?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Ans:<\/b>You could have Multiple Joint Pain if your answer to any 2 of the following question is \u201cyes\u201d:\n<ul>\n<li>Do you find it difficult to squat in your toilet or sit on the floor?<\/li>\n<li>Do you feel pain in your shoulder when wearing your shirt or blouse?<\/li>\n<li>Do you feel your finger joints get stiff in the morning hours?<\/li>\n<li>Do you feel that recently your knee or ankle joints are warmer or swollen?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n<p>Recommendations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>To know the reason for your pain &#038; treat it more accurately, take a <b>Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment<\/b> with our Geriatrician.<\/li>\n<li>Based on the assessment results, the Geriatric Physiotherapist may suggest some joint relaxing exercises, stretching and passive exercises.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid taking pain killers without seeking doctor\u2019s advice as it may lead to serious harmful side effects in your body.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><span><b>Q:<\/b>When do you say that you have Urinary Incontinence? How to manage it?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Ans:<\/b>If your answer to any 1 of the following questions is \u201cyes\u201d that would indicate, you have poor control over urine\/Urinary Incontinence:\n<ul>\n<li>Has the number of your urinal visits increased?<\/li>\n<li>Do you pass urine while coughing or sneezing?<\/li>\n<li>Do you feel the need to urinate urgently than before?<\/li>\n<li>Do you feel a sensation of fullness of bladder immediately after passing urine?<\/li>\n<li>Do you feel the urge to pass stool along with urine?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n<p>Recommendations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Taking a Urinary Bladder Assessment with the Geriatrician along with a Urine routine.<\/li>\n<li>A urologist opinion could assist confirming the exact diagnosis.<\/li>\n<li>Do not shy away from your water intake to avoid going to toilet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><span><b>Q:<\/b>How to manage constipation in elderly?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Ans:<\/b>An in-depth assessment of your bowel movement is recommended. Geriatricians can also help by suggesting appropriate dietary habits such as high fiber diet, increased water intake &#038; also to increase physical activity for better bowel movement.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span><b>Q:<\/b>Why do I find it difficult to balance myself these days? How can I improve my balance?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Ans:<\/b>Balance issues deals with unsteady walking and difficulty in walking or sitting up right. If your answer to any 2 of these questions is \u201cyes\u201d for most of the time, then you might have difficulty in balancing and it is recommended to be reviewed by a consultant.\n<ul>\n<li>Do you get the feeling of rotation when you sit up?<\/li>\n<li>Does the surrounding spin around?<\/li>\n<li>Do you feel the tendency to fall on one side?<\/li>\n<li>Do you feel you will faint on standing up?<\/li>\n<li>Do you have any hearing difficulty?<\/li>\n<li>Do you have pain in your ears?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n<p>Recommendations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Geriatrician can help better after taking an in-depth assessment for your balance and gait issues along with the Geriatric Physiotherapist.<\/li>\n<li>Lifestyle changes like putting railings at hip level in the bathrooms, placing a carpet right under the bed might help avoid falls.<\/li>\n<li>Start using a walking stick or a cane as required. Do not shy away from using them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><span><b>Q:<\/b>What is a Fall risk assessment? <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Ans:<\/b>Fall is one of the most common reason for injury in the elderly population. It can cause from simple fractures to intracranial injuries. Age itself is not a risk factor but the overall health status of the elderly is associated with risk of fall.<\/p>\n<p>You are recommended undergo a fall risk assessment, if your answer is \u201cyes\u201d to any 1 of the following questions:\n<ul>\n<li>Have you fallen multiple times\/repeatedly in the past year?<\/li>\n<li>Did you feel any chest pain, palpitations, or dizziness before the fall?<\/li>\n<li>Did you get up on your own after the fall?<\/li>\n<li>Do you fear that you may fall again?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n<p>A <b>fall risk assessment<\/b> is a multi-disciplinary approach performed by a team of geriatrician, physiotherapist, senior nursing staff, dietician, and occupational therapist.<\/p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span><b>Q:<\/b>When do I need a Frailty Screening? What is Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Ans:<\/b>Frailty is the clinical state of increased vulnerability that weakens the elderly. It leads to the inability to cope with their everyday activities.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Frailty can lead to loss of weight, loss of appetite, desire to participate in social activities and a generalized tiredness.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If your answer to any 1 of these questions is &#8220;yes&#8221; then you would need to undergo a \u201cComprehensive Geriatric Assessment\u201d that screens your Frailty level.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Are you older than 85 years?<\/li>\n<li>Do you have any health problems that limits your daily activities?<\/li>\n<li>Do you extensively use a cane or walker?<\/li>\n<li>Do you need someone&#8217;s help to do your regular activities?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment<\/b> is a battery of test done by a specialized multi-disciplinary team to check the Frailty Score of elderly.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>After the assessment, a <b>\u201cHome Environment Review\u201d<\/b> is also recommended which enables the multi-disciplinary team to suggest you multitude of lifestyle changes required to avoid future falls and have a better quality of life by trying to maintain your independence.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span><b>Q:<\/b>Is there any special vaccination for elders?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Ans:<\/b>As per adult immunization schedule, elderly must take both the pneumococcal and influenza vaccine.<\/p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span><b>Q:<\/b>Why is dehydration more common in elderly people?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Ans:<\/b>The elderly people are prone to drinking less water due to fear of urinary problems thus, they suffer from dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Indian Council of Medical Research&#8217;s Dietary Guidelines recommends drinking atleast 2 liters of water every day.<\/p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span><b>Q:<\/b>Does the Geriatrician have any special advice for Parkinson\u2019s disease patients?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Ans:<\/b>Parkinson\u2019s is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement that may lead to a degradation in quality of one\u2019s life. Yet elderly can maintain a good quality of life with multiple aids and orthosis available especially for Parkinson\u2019s disease patients. They should also continue occupational therapy services for further rehabilitation.<\/p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!--Blog Content Footer area-->\n<p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-md-3 col-sm-6\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dr. Priyanka Rana Patgiri is a Geriatrics\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drkmh.com\/images\/doctors\/dr-priyanka-rana-patgiri.jpg\" onerror=\"this.src='https:\/\/drkmh.com\/images\/doctors\/drkmh-doctor-notfound.jpg'\" db-pic=\"Dr-priyanka-rana-patgiri.jpg\" style=\"width:125px;height:125px\">\n<b>\n<\/b><\/div><b>\n<\/b><div class=\"col-md-9 col-sm-6\"><b>Reviewed By:\n<\/b><p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drkmh.com\/236\/dr-priyanka-rana-patgiri\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DR.PRIYANKA RANA PATGIRI<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p>CONSULTANT \u2013 GERIATRICS<\/p>\n<p>MBBS., MD GERIATRICS<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; Q:What is Geriatrics? &nbsp; Ans:Geriatrics refers to specialized medical care for older adults, especially for the senior citizens (elderly people after the age of 60 years) in India. &nbsp; Q:Why do you need Geriatric Care? &nbsp; Ans: Life expectancy has increased. Hence, elders aged 60 years and above are increasing in numbers. Diseases [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1175,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[146],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-geriatrics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drkmh.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1163","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drkmh.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drkmh.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drkmh.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drkmh.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1163"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.drkmh.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1163\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1669,"href":"https:\/\/www.drkmh.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1163\/revisions\/1669"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drkmh.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drkmh.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drkmh.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drkmh.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}