And Duke's Division of Geriatrics is ready to take on the challenge of keeping those people healthy-and independent. Issues often arise that are not disease-specific. One of these issues is frailty, the term used to describe the combination of physiological, functional and circumstantial changes that can cause elders to have trouble managing their lives. The GET Clinic is one of these innovations, and has been a model for institutions around the country. Coordinated under the Center for Study of Aging and Human Development, programs within the division also involve life care communities and palliative care initiatives.
Prevention is another high priority.
We think about prevention as a way to minimize frailty and maximize functional status. We examine how things like physical and mental fitness impact a person's continuing ability to function. The division is also involved in several clinical trials that hold out hope for prevention of common problems such as osteoporosis and shingles. This is a very compelling issue, Cohen says, as drug interactions and inappropriate or excessive medications are common. Once we sort out the drugs, they often become manageable again.