title: Preventive care of the elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As the population ages, there is an increasing proportion of the population which will be reflected in the nature of general practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To supply a framework for family physicians to intervene, prevent or minimise the many adverse factors affecting the function of our elderly patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whilst organic disease is important in itself, loss of function is more important to our patients and general practitioners should be in the forefront of efforts to improve their quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Caulfield Family Medical Practice, Vic.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D005194:Family Practice; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D018570:Risk Assessment