Inadequate Medicare reimbursements likely will continue to play a huge negative role, according to several physicians. On top of that, older patients take more time and have more complex medical issues, he says. But he also believes the message that older people may need special consideration and different treatment has reached medical students and residents. Students and doctors who practice geriatrics see firsthand the potential rewards and challenges. They learn that older adults are more sensitive to medication and to infection, that some drugs don't work or may even kill them.
Older adults are susceptible to multiple, complex problems.
They may have high blood pressure, osteoporosis, incontinence and arthritis all at once. Cognitive deficits and depression are common. They may not have family or social support. I like the patient population. A lot of the patients we see have complex medical problems and the symptoms are subtler.