Low Back Pain in the Elderly
Low Back Pain in the Elderly Kim Edward LeBlanc CLINICAL PEARLS The L4 nerve root is evaluated by the patellar tendon reflex. Afflictions of the L5 nerve root are noted…
Dizziness, Syncope, and Falls in the Elderly
Dizziness, Syncope, and Falls in the Elderly Richard Brunader Janet Leah Retke CLINICAL PEARLS Dizziness is the result of a dysfunction in the sensory, central integrative, or motor systems affecting…
Hearing Difficulty
Hearing Difficulty Roseanne C. Berger Robert F. Burkard CLINICAL PEARLS “Loud talkers” typically suffer from sensorineural hearing loss, whereas “soft talkers” have conductive hearing loss. Functional hearing deficits can be…
Visual Impairment in the Elderly
Visual Impairment in the Elderly Shariar Farzad David Sarraf Anne L. Coleman CLINICAL PEARLS Visual impairment affects 20% to 30% of persons aged 75 and older. Cataracts and refractive error…
Weight Loss in the Elderly Patient
Weight Loss in the Elderly Patient Russell G. Robertson CLINICAL PEARLS Among healthy people, total body weight tends to peak in the sixth decade of life. Involuntary weight loss is…
Elder Abuse: “It Shouldn’t Hurt To Be Old”*
Elder Abuse: “It Shouldn’t Hurt To Be Old”* Patricia A. Bomba CLINICAL PEARLS Elder abuse is a hidden public health issue. Elder abuse results in increased mortality rates and unnecessary…
Substance Abuse
Substance Abuse Robert Mallin CLINICAL PEARLS Substance use disorders are common in the elderly and present less straightforwardly than they do in younger patients. Look for alcohol abuse and prescription…
Management of the Surgical Patient
Management of the Surgical Patient Peter Pompei CLINICAL PEARLS Operative therapy can be an effective management option for many health problems affecting older persons. Surgery can be done with few…
Loss and Bereavement in the Elderly
Loss and Bereavement in the Elderly Donald P. Bartlett Marlon Russell Koenigsberg Jeffrey M. Moll CLINICAL PEARLS Normal grief does not unfold in a series of predictable stages. It is…
Pain Control
Pain Control Michael P. Temporal CLINICAL PEARLS Pain is not a normal part of aging. Even in the cognitively impaired, any complaint of pain must be taken as real. A…
