Not typical patients certainly, but, on the other hand, not that uncommon. The medicine of later life is both interesting and varied but it has not been until the last 10-15 years that we have seen its popularity increasing. Myths and Stereotypes Many attitudes that society holds towards the elderly are based on myths and stereotypes. Yet typically the elderly are thought of as suffering from ill-health, forgetfulness, leading isolated lives, and are generally unaware of what is going on. The term 'ageism' is used to refer to this unjustly negative image of the elderly and its subtle discrimination embraces the common concept that the elderly are an homogeneous group, fitting a certain stereotype.
Nothing is further from the truth.
Although the young definitely see themselves as a grouping, people who happen to be chronologically old do not think of themselves as being old. They still see themselves as they always have been. Most older people who see themselves as old are those suffering from chronic disease or disability. This is a group who are biologically rather than chronologically old. History of Geriatric Medicine Geriatric Medicine came into being principally because of the realisation by a few doctors that disease processes may manifest themselves in a different way in the old compared with the young and that 'old age' was not a diagnosis.