As elderly people make up an ever greater fraction of our population, a context for approaching their primary medical care is essential. However, the health care system can meet the needs of elderly patients to a limited extent only. In such cases, Family physicians can serve as a connecting link between the healthcare system and elderly patients. Prevention, early detection, health promotion, diagnosis, assessment, and treatment are the principal tasks for family physicians.
The impressive successes of medicine over the past century have made it possible for elderly people to live longer and healthier. Elderly people encompass a relatively small proportion of all patients attending the emergency department of overall hospital inpatients. Disease presentation is often atypical in elderly patients and the doctor has to have expertise and patience to cater to their problems. Family…
