Add to this the mental confusion and depression sometimes experienced by older adults and you've got a complex picture of what life can be like as people age. Covered by Medicare and most private insurance, the evaluation is conducted by a multidisciplinary team of geriatric specialists comprising primary care physicians, neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists and others. Working together, they unravel the patient's interconnected health problems, finally arriving at a comprehensive diagnosis. Once the assessment is completed and discussed with the patient and family, appropriate therapy begins. Depending on the patient's needs, he or she may be referred back to a family doctor, followed by HAPS Program physicians, or cared for by both.
Many caregivers hold full-time jobs and return home to attend to their relative all night long.
Others are homebound, taking care of an older person 24 hours a day. The stress involved in such situations takes its toll. These problems and others, including the best living arrangements for an older person, are addressed by the program's geriatric experts. Here are some symptoms that should alert you to trouble. Adverse drug reactions may cause a wide range of symptoms, including drowsiness, depression, confusion and weakness.