Table Of ContentTHE CARE
of the
OLDER PERSON
Fourth Edition
www.careoftheolderperson.com
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The Care of the Older Person
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and e-book are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
You should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider if you have
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CONTENTS
DISCLAIMER iii
EDITORS/CONTRIBUTORS vii
CONTRIBUTORS ix
INTRODUCTION 1
Caring for the older person 7
Frailty 15
Physical activity as a countermeasure to frailty 21
Doctor, my wife is getting forgetful 33
Update on Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and management 37
Navigating the journey of dementia as a caregiver 45
How to diagnose and manage delirium 53
Why does my patient have gait & balance disorders? 61
Could my patient be malnourished? 69
Are the immunizations of my patient up to date? 79
Management of older patients in the emergency department:
this man is old, but is it an emergency? 89
Critical care of the older person 95
COVID-19 in long-term care 105
Stroke prevention in the elderly 117
v
vi The Care of the Older Person
Advances in cardiac care for older persons 125
How to manage type 2 diabetes in frail elderly patients 147
Cancer in older adults 157
Cancer screening in the older adult 163
Psycho oncology: living with the fear of death 181
Incontinence in older adults 187
Polypharmacy and deprescribing in the elderly 197
After the menopause 207
Skin care of the older person: the skin and its associated changes 217
Elder abuse 227
Late-life anxiety 235
An overview of late-life depression 245
Assessment of decision-making capacity 255
How do I protect my patient? 265
Financial guidance for seniors 277
The role of religious belief in the end-of-life care of older persons 295
Glossary: medical terms and their meaning 303
Bibliography & Supplemental Bibliography 395
EDITORS/CONTRIBUTORS
Olivier Beauchet, MD, PhD, Professor of Geriatrics, Dr. Joseph Kaufmann Chair in
Geriatric Medicine, Director of centre of excellence on aging and chronic diseases,
McGill University
Howard Bergman, MD, FCFP, FRCP(C), Chair, Department of Family Medicine,
Professor, Departments of Family Medicine, Medicine, and Oncology, McGill University
Ronald M. Caplan, MD, CM, FACS, FACOG, FRCS(C), Clinical Associate Professor
Emeritus Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Abraham Fuks, MD, CM, FRCP(C), Professor, Department of Medicine, McGill
University
Serge Gauthier, CM, CQ, MD, FRCP(C), Director, Alzheimer Disease Research
Unit, McGill Center for Studies in Aging, Professor, Departments of Neurology &
Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, Medicine, McGill University
Phil Gold, CC, OQ, MD, PhD, FRSC, DSc (Hon), MACP, FRCP(C), Douglas G. Cameron
Professor of Medicine, Professor of Physiology and Oncology, McGill University,
Executive Director Clinical Research Center (MGH) McGill University Health Centre
Jose A. Morais, MD, FRCP(C), Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Director, Division of
Geriatric Medicine, Lead, Dementia Education Program, McGill University, Co-Director,
Quebec Network for Research on Aging
vii
CONTRIBUTORS
Karen C. Altfest, PhD, CFP®, Executive Vice President and Principal Advisor, Altfest
Personal Wealth Management, New York City
Paulina Bajsarowicz, MD, FRCPC, Geriatric Psychiatrist, Douglas Mental Health
University Institute, Assistant Professor McGill University
Guy Hajj Boutros, MSc, Kinesiologist and Research Assistant, Research Institute of
McGill University Health Centre
Lysanne Campeau, MDCM, PhD, FRCS(C), Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division
of Urology, McGill University
Julia Chabot, MDCM, FRCPC, MSc, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, McGill
University
A. Mark Clarfield, MD, FRCPC, Professor Emeritus of Geriatrics, Ben-Gurion
University, Medical School for International Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-
Gurion University of the Negev
Philippe Desmarais, MD, FRCPC, MHSc, Assistant Clinical Professor, Faculty of
Medicine, University de Montreal
Liam Durcan, MD, FRCPC, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology and
Neurosurgery, McGill University, Consultant Neurologist, Stroke Service, McGill
University Health Centre
Hao Feng, MD, MHS, Assistant Professor, Director of Laser Surgery and Cosmetic
Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, University of Connecticut Health Centre
Catherine Ferrier, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty
of Medicine, McGill University
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