HEALTH EDUCATION IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS

The preservation of health and functional independence are the most important aspects of health promotion in older adults.

There are some risk factors that may go associated with other problems or be the trigger of the disease that we have to bear in mind at home as well as in the health center. These factors may be organic (because of the disease), environmental (architectural barriers, inactivity) or relational (loneliness).

The objectives we must follow in the prevention of geriatric patients are mainly to keep their functional independence, to improve their quality of life, To reduce mortality and to increase life expectancy, providing individual attention to the old man and his environment.

To achieve these objectives, we are going to incide on a series of parametres to promote health.

•   Blood pressure control at least once a year both supine and in standing.

•    Lipid control every five years in asymptomatic patients to prevent dyslipidemia.

•   Annual EGC over 75 years to prevent arrhythmias to decrease the risk of stroke.

•   prolonged.

•   Annual fasting glucose to prevent diabetes melitus especially in patients with a family history of obesity, hypertension or glucose intolerance.

•   Annual review of the mental state by Pfeiffer or MEC tests to prevent cognitive decline and to apply preventive measures as soon as possible if necessary.

•   Mood annual review to prevent depressions and to initiate early treatment.

•   TSH control every five years to prevent hypothyroidism, especially in women.

•   Control of vitamin B12 every five years to prevent pernicious anemia, responsible of many irreversible neurological lesions.

•   Annual monitoring of fecal occult blood to prevent colon cancer, making screening in patients from  75 to 80 years ( patients with good health).

•   Mammography every 1-2 years to prevent breast cancer untill 70 years if life expectancy is from five to ten years.

•   Pap smear every three years to prevent cervical cancer, interrupting the controls at age of 65 in explored women without having been ever positive, and in no explored women after two exams without alterations within one year.

•   DRE and PSA testing for prostate cancer prevention.

•   Annual audiometric study to prevent hearing loss and fitting a hearing aid as soon as possible.

•   Study to prevent presvicia yearly eye, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, and to perform necessary preventive treatments.