title: Preventive health care for older patients.
abstract: This chapter addresses key components of screening and preventive care for the older population. The older population is heterogeneous, ranging from the competent, active, well individual to the frail, demented individual. Certain preventive measures are important for all individuals such as counseling on exercise and screening for high blood pressure. However, universal cancer, cholesterol, or dementia screening may not be cost effective and beneficial in all older adults. These preventive measures should be guided by the individuals' circumstances including their life expectancy, co-morbid illnesses, functional capacity, and quality of life. Clinicians may be able to individualize preventive medicine decisions by stratifying their patients into well and frail using the guidelines we have provided. The goal of prevention and screening in older patients is to improve function and quality of life. Primary care physicians should facilitate discussion of preventive measures with their older patients as part of their ongoing health care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, 1015 Walnut Street, Suite 401, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. susan.parks@mail.tju.edu
authors.forename: Susan Mockus
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Parks
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D011314:Preventive Health Services