title: Presentation of illness in older adults.
abstract: Although people age at different rates, changes to the composition of the human body are a hallmark of aging. As a result of such changes, disease can present differently in a person over 65 years old than it would in a younger adult or child. This article identifies the critical indicators of underlying conditions, including changes in mental status, loss of function, decrease in appetite, dehydration, falls, pain, dizziness, and incontinence. It also describes the presentation of diseases common to older adults, including depression, infection, cardiac disease, gastrointestinal disorders, thyroid disease, and type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing, Charleston, SC, USA. amellaej@musc.edu
authors.forename: Elaine J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Amella
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003221:Confusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male