title: The complexities involved with managing the care of an elderly patient.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment planning for and managing the care of elderly patients can be complicated for a number of reasons. To understand the patient's needs, one must understand the environment in which the patient functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors present a case that illustrates some of the social, economic, financial and transportation issues that are involved in treating elderly patients, as well as how the dynamics of the interpersonal relationships influence the final treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A dental treatment plan can be difficult to outline to a patient because modifying factors may make care complex and difficult to manage. This requires good communication among the dentist, patient and family.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA. terry-lindquist@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Terry J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lindquist
authors.forename: Ronald L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ettinger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000379:methods*; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D014081:Tooth Extraction