Geriatric Medicine

The Department of Geriatric Medicine at Fortis memorial research institute (FMRI), provides comprehensive care to old patients. In 2011 census, 60 plus accounted for 8.6% population, in India. According to Elderly in India 2021, this proportion has increased to 10.1%, and expected to reach 13.1% in 2031. 75% of older adults have one or more chronic diseases, requiring life-long medications. 40 % have one or more disability, with locomotor and visual being most common. 20% have mental health issues. Older adults are different, with unique challenges in their management, like they have multiple chronic diseases, requiring multiple medications, with high risk of drug interactions and adverse drug events. They have different presentation of their diseases, in comparison to young. They take longer time to recover because of their age-related physiological changes. Sometimes patients, their caregivers and health care providers recognize ill health as part of old age. Condemnatory attitude, limited awareness and knowledge leads to poor quality of care. Geriatric care has to address two problems, first basic health promotion to retard rate of physiological aging, and second medical management of diseases and disorders which specifically occurs in old age, in order to sustain comfortable and healthy aging. Efficient health care for elderly is, therefore, possible only by comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach. 

Services

• Diagnose and treat older adults, with one or more chronic health issues, with holistic approach

• Evaluation, prevention and management of age-related conditions and rehabilitation of elderly

  • Falls

  • Memory impairment and acute confusion states

  • Urinary incontinence

  • Depression and anxiety

  • Osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture

  • Malnutrition, loss of appetite and loss of weight

  • Taking multiple medications

  • Functional decline with/without bedridden state

  • Loss of muscle mass and strength

  • Palliative and end of life care

  • Caregiving advise and caregiver support

• Holistic approach to support healthy aging through primary and specialized care with comprehensive geriatric evaluation and management

• Advise and guidance for vaccination and preventive health services

Aim: Help patients to keep themselves healthy and independent and to ensure them a higher quality of life as they age.