Rehabilitating older patients: primary care evaluation, treatment, and resources.
Elderly patients with functionally significant disabilities and handicaps may benefit from a comprehensive rehabilitation program. Patients may be treated while hospitalized or as outpatients. Age itself is not a contraindication to such a program and impaired mentation is not an absolute contraindication. Physiologic changes of aging may adversely affect function, but these effects may be partially reversible (if exacerbated by inactivity)--or may be compensated for by appropriate training. Emphasis is on functionally significant goals that can be achieved within a generally predictable period of time. The achievement of these significant goals would allow the patient to remain in or return to a home setting and avoid institutionalization. Through informed patient assessment and referral, the primary care physician can make optimal use of this resource.
Felsenthal
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Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore.
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare; D009068:Movement; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010819:Physician's Role; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012046:Rehabilitation; D014481:United States; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000628:therapy