title: Health assessment of the older patient.
abstract: More than 50% of patients admitted to critical care units are older than age 60. Interpretation of assessment data should take into consideration the normal physiologic variations associated with the aging process. This article discusses age-related physiologic assessment findings of older persons pertinent to the critical care nurse. It also addresses some common physiologic aging problems older patients experience in the intensive care unit.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nowazek
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Neeley
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003422:Critical Care; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment