Elderly medicine

Question 1

Elderly are more likely to have

Answer 1

comorbidities

Question 2

Parkinson’s disease causes

Answer 2

gradual decline in Substantia Nigra in brain

Question 3

Parkinson’s symptoms

Answer 3

Tremor (‘shaking’) in the hands
Rigidity (‘stiffness’) the muscles in the arms and legs
Slower movements
Problems with balance and instability when walking
Low mood
Constipation
Changes in weight
Gets worse over time

Question 4

Difficulty in diagnosing Parkinson’s?

Answer 4

No definitive test or scan to show it, dr relies on physical examination and clinical history to find signs/symptoms of it

Question 5

Ways to help someone with Parkinsons?

Answer 5

Medications increasing dopamine levels in the brain
Specialist nurses - often hugely experienced and knowledgeable of Parkinson’s disease
Physiotherapy - can help with keeping patients physically fit and maximising their mobility
Occupational therapy - often very useful to assess and improve the day-to-day functional abilities of the patient, increasing quality of life
Managing a balanced diet - can improve health and reduce various symptoms associated with Parkinson’s
Self management - advising patients to keep a diary of their symptoms, to lead a healthy lifestyle and to learn about their disease is one way of empowering patients to play their part in managing the disease
Regular reviews - these are really important, for example to assess if a drug is working, or if the disease is causing more of an impact and further intervention is needed. This can be with the GP, a specialist nurse or a senior doctor of elderly medicine.

Question 6

Arthiritis 2 types

Answer 6

osteoarthiritis (wear and tear from normal use)
rheumatoid arthiritis - immune system attacks joints leading to inflammation and damage

Question 7

Loneliness

Answer 7

over a mmillion of those at age 75+ go for a month without speaking to anyone close to them
possibly due to illness/death of close friends and family

Question 8

Loneliness both stats

Answer 8

Loneliness is twice as detrimental to health as obesity in elderly people
Loneliness is as unhealthy as smoking 15 cigarettes a day

Question 9

Reducing loneliness in the elderly

Answer 9

Keeping them busy eg seeing friend, going to the shops or on a walk if they are able to
Volunteering to help out at youth centres athe elderly have more experience than others there
Teach them how to use technology to keep in contact with those they love in technology workshops in local libraries