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SOMATIC ILLNESS—PREVENTION AND REHABILITATION *
Author(s) -
Geltner Luzer
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1968.tb02760.x
Subject(s) - medicine , rehabilitation , dehumanization , welfare , physical therapy , sociology , anthropology , political science , law
A bstract Somatic illnesses of the elderly are discussed from the standpoints of prevention and rehabilitation. The Periodic Health Examination (P.H.E.) after age 40 should play a prime role. This form of prevention merges into treatment, maintenance care and rehabilitation. Purely laboratory screening without expert medical interpretation has many pitfalls and is a dehumanizing process. P.H.E. and maintenance care should be undertaken by the general practitioners. Examples in Edinburgh and The Netherlands are cited. It is recommended that Age Guidance Clinics be established. These would be patterned somewhat after Child Welfare Clinics, but adapted to the needs of patients of advanced age. They would require much larger staffs of specially trained nurses. The first important step on the long road to successful rehabilitation is the total evaluation of the patient's physical, mental and social assets. A simple assessment of the physical deficiencies cannot serve as an adequate foundation for successful total restoration. Physico‐medical rehabilitation has added a great deal to acceptable methods of treatment for elderly people. Definite criteria and limitations must be recognized, however, and the programme should be employed with common sense and realism.