[Locating and monitoring of the elderly by family physicians]

A program to locate and monitor the elderly population registered at the East Talpiot Clinic in Jerusalem was set up. 93% of the 372 registered elderly were located, of whom 6.2% were not previously known to their assigned family physician at the clinic. The program established risk groups based on medical, social and psychological factors. These factors were elevated blood pressure, diabetes, psychiatric illness, tumors, confinement to home, isolation and recent bereavement. 68% of the elderly fell into at least one of these risk groups. There was positive response to the monitoring program in 2/3 of the cases. This method of locating and monitoring the elderly within the on-going work of the family physician in the clinic was practical and effective. It also indicates an appropriate role for the neighborhood clinic in its own setting.