[Introduction. General aspects of medical problems of the aging patient]

It is a common mistake to bring older people together in one group of the population. This age group is, however, remarkably heterogeneous; it covers a wide range of ages and the changes of senescence, appearing during this period of life are quite divergent. In some aged patients diseases may present in a different way, the so-called "geriatric profile". The main characteristics of this profile are: the coexistence of multiple chronic illnesses threatening the independence of these aged persons, the change in presentation of their diseases, the under-reporting of their medical problems and the interdependence of the social, psychological and physical domains. It requires a special medical competence to deal with these "frail" geriatric patients.