[Rehabilitative measures in elderly patients]

The age structure of the population shows an increase in older people. In particular cardiovascular diseases become manifest prevailingly beyond the 65th year of life. So, the percentage of care for this age group with cardiovascular diseases will continue to rise in the years to come. Herein measures of rehabilitation with older patients have to be thought over again and put into practice. The comprehensive rehabilitation in this group of patients with a higher percentage of more severely sick patients aims at the maintenance and stabilisation of the physical and psychic capability and at support with social problems. The physician should remain in connection with the older patient in the process of mastering his/her disease and thus contribute to reaching his/her mental balance.