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| The expectancy of life has increased significantly in the last few decades. The trend is likely to persist in the coming years, and life expectancy may well surpass 80 years in most countries of the world, including India. Our society is rapidly undergoing change. Increasingly, women, who are the traditional caregivers for the elderly, are are joining the workforce. Many in the working generation leave the state in search of jobs. So we are faced with a situation where the elderly are increasing in numbers and living longer while the number of care givers are rapidly decreasing. This is reflected by a rapid increase in the number of old age homes.
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| The old age homes, for the most part, do not offer anything in the way of healthcare maintenance. The problem is compounded by the lack of adequate insurance coverage for the elderly. To meet this acute need of comprehensive geriatric assessment, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre hosts a separate Geriatric Department with a team of healthcare personnel - Geriatrician, Geriatric Nurses, Medical Social Workers, Geriatric Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists, Nutritionists, etc. This is the first of its kind in Kerala. The benefit of a comprehensive geriatric consultation is that patient can meet all the team members at the same time during their visit.
Geriatric medical care differs from customary medical care because the focus is on the preservation of function and improving the quality of life rather than on investigating, diagnosing, treating and curing specific diseases. This means that the Geriatrician addresses the patient's social and psychological problems as well as his/ her medical problems and also frequently works with the family or caregivers who are assisting the older person. |
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