[Promoting healthy ageing after 65 : the role of primary care]

In Switzerland, as elsewhere, life expectancy is increasing, but these additional years are not always lived in good health. The gap between life expectancy at birth and disability-free life expectancy remains substantial, with inequalities related to sex, education and socioeconomic context. For primary care physicians, the challenge is to identify patients at risk of functional decline and loss of autonomy at an early stage. This article offers practical guidance to screen for the main geriatric syndromes, recognize modifiable risk factors and implement measures aimed at preserving intrinsic capacity and quality of life. It is based in particular on the WHO ICOPE (Integrated Care for Older People) approach and on available Swiss recommendations.