The diagnosis and treatment of elderly patients: some practical guidelines

Clinicians working with elderly patients must assist them in rediscovering strengths, rekindle their interests in activities and in other people, treat and perhaps cure their disabilities, and help them discover that life is worth living. The author presents a collection of practical evaluation and treatment suggestions to help the clinician take an integrated, basic health care approach to the older person. His guidelines cover such areas as interpersonal relationships between the clinician and the patient, psychosocial assessments, techniques for working with the elderly, treatment goals and tasks, and medication use. There is also a review of the literature on the treatment of the elderly patient.