[Possibilities for prevention in the aged in primary health care]

A systematic periodic check-up of all aged by the general practitioner would result in an impracticable workload of the GP, while the benefits of this check-up have never been proved irrefutably. Good arguments can be brought forward however for regular visits by the health visitor to survey the social and medical conditions, referring to the GP and social work agencies if necessary. This kind of surveillance has been proved to be feasible. The most important task in preventive respect for the GP is to forestall unnecessary deterioration of health and validity by optimal diagnosis and treatment of the aged under his care, by surveillance and anticipatory care. The new possibilities of data automation with personal computers offer important perspectives in this respect. The use of these possibilities will help the GP to learn to look at his practice population as a population at risk in which the category of the aged is prone to particular risks. As the GP has contact with 85% of the aged in his practice during one year, a systematization of the surveillance of these risk categories should be easily practicable.