geriatric healthcare seminar

Thursday, 4.11.2008

2.00 p.m

Today we had a talk on Geriatric Healthcare which was presented by Tan Mei Yi, Tan Yong Jia, Wu Chee Cao and Ong Ee Chau. The seminar was overseen by Prof. Rashid and was held in Lecture seminar room 1.

The main objective of the seminar was to highlight the importance of geriatric healthcare in Malaysia.

Geriatrics refers specifically to problems associated with ageing and Gerontology is the Science of ageing.

In the talk, it was said that today there are about 600 million people in the world aged 60 and over and is estimated that by 2025 this total is expected to double and by 2050 it is projected to reach two billion or 21 percent of the total global population.

Problems faced by the elderly

1. Hypertension

2. Diabetes mellitus

3. Under nutrition

4. Dentition problem

5. Skin problems

States that have a higher incidence of ageing includes Perlis, Perak. Melaka, P.Pinang and Kedah.

There are only three general hospitals – Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Seremban Hospital and Banting Hospital – that give full geriatric care and this facilities will not be enough as the elderly population is said to increase in the years to come and by 2020, 9.5% of the population will consist of elderly.

Chronis medical illnesses of the elderly was also highlighted in the seminar.

Functional Health assessment, Mental Health assessment and Healthcare for the elderly that is available in Malaysia was also discussed. Lastly, the Healthcare programmes in Malaysia was discussed.

The aim of this programme is to ensure that the elderly is provided with comprehensive health care services and facilities in line with the National Policy for The Elderly and its objectives

This program is aimed at ensuring that the elderly lives a healthy physical, mental and social well-being life, is able to care for himself/ herself and able to contribute towards social family activities

The seminar was concluded with a brief discussion with Prof. Rashid who touches upon :

1. The main diseases that can affect the elderly and ways of early detection to prevent late complication.
2. The main complication that can be found in the elderly living in the old folks home - hypertension, malnutrition which can be prevented with dentures, diabetes, depression, Alzheimer’s and cardiac problems
3. Advice to the care-givers on how to manage the elderly especially with cognitive impairment