LEARNING OUTCOMES

The student must be able:
-to understand the European and Italian epidemiology, in particular the population demographic changes
-to recognize the changes that the older person shows and  know how to approach him/her clinically, psychologically and with humanity
-to apply the international multidimensional evaluation methods (i.e. the “comprehensive geriatric assessment”)
- learn about the various degrees of fragility, complexity and the elderly person's severe impairment
- to know and be able to diagnose and treat the most common diseases of elderly (geriatric syndromes)
- Set an effective analgesic therapy after a precise evaluation of pain

- to implement the pathologic aging prevention, plan a healthy life, to know and apply a judicious and wise anti-aging therapy
- to address the ethical and deontological problems in the elderly population, the undue treatment and palliation
- to properly use the network of services for the elderly

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The student once acquired the core curriculum of geriatrics will be able to:

evaluate the impact of age-related changes on the physiology, comorbidity and drug selection and prescription

know the drugs that should be prescribed with caution or avoided

to have full knowledge of the possible adverse events, food, diseases and molecules interactions with the drugs used in the elderly

differentiate the clinical presentation of delirium, dementia and depression

formulate a differential diagnosis and observe the clinical relevance of a patient with cognitive impairment; set the specific drug therapy and non-pharmacological

assess the cognitive abilities of an elderly with memory problems

establish the functional capacity of an elderly, including sensory conditions; perform a physical examination focused on elderly

develop a plan to manage frailty and disability through environmental adaptation and social interventions; participate to a multidisciplinary team (UVG)

identify safety risks to the patient's home and recommend appropriate changes

analyze the falls, assess the gait and postural stability, interpret tests and set up a prevention and treatment plan

check the family, social, environmental situation and the organization of life of the elderly

assessing the life expectancy, the clinical condition, the patient's preferences, realistic goals for the a diagnostic screening and for a cure

to know the the possibility of atypical presentations, orphan symptoms, shared symptoms of different diseases

knowing how to assess pain even in the patient with dementia, how to set up a therapy and re-check it over time

learn about palliative care and hospice care as a positive option for the patient

know the risks of hospitalization, risk prevention and find a possible treatment

know what are the limits and the risks of physical and pharmacological restraints

set a discharge from a hospital or nursing home, with the review of medications, the follow-up, the signs of rehabilitation and the address correctly the patient and his family in the network of services

know how to prevent and deal effectively with the pressure sores

address the ethical and clinical problems in the last part of the patient's life

TEACHING METHODS

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hazzard's Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Mc Graw-Hill 2017

Ham – Primary care geriatrics – Saunders 2014

Oxford’s handbook of geriatric medicine – Oxford 2012