Constipation unmasks an unexpected diagnosis
Naomi, an 81-year-old woman, presents to her local ED with intermittent cramping abdominal pain and a paucity of bowel motions. Her bowels have not opened…
Tag: Geriatrics
A GP guide to mental health in aged care
Need to know: The number of Australians living in residential aged care continues to grow. In June 2022, 178,000 people aged 65 and older were…
Hip fractures more common after gabapentinoid treatment: Aussie study
Older patients dispensed gabapentinoids have a nearly twofold increased risk of hip fracture, Monash University researchers have found. Their study of more than 28,000 Victorians…
Police officer who tasered 95-year-old aged care patient found guilty of manslaughter
A police officer who tasered a 95-year-old aged care resident last year faces up to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of manslaughter…
The euthanasia of patients with advanced dementia is happening — AusDoc explains how it works
The most ethically complex issue at the heart of the debate about euthanasia is dementia. Advocates consider it a matter of self-determination and autonomy —…
T2DM patients can target remission, says updated diabetes handbook
Type 2 diabetes treatments, such as low-calorie diets and bariatric surgery, can lead to remission for some patients, says new guidance from the RACGP and…
Electric fans in extreme dry heat can harm elderly patients, researchers warn
Older adults should avoid electric fans during extremely hot and dry weather because they can triple strain on the heart, Australian researchers say. Older adults…
‘Being an aged care doctor is not about being a saint — the rewards are there in front of you’
GP Dr Fiona Wallace, who trained in the Hebridean islands of Scotland, became disillusioned with her work at an Australian rural ED after seeing so…
Opening the doors to lost worlds: me and my dementia patients
A familiar lone figure waits directly behind the security doors of the geriatric ward. There in his mint green pyjamas and long plaid overcoat he…
Benefits of antidepressants ‘unclear’ for chronic pain in older patients: Aussie study
Antidepressants are widely prescribed to patients aged 65 and older for chronic pain but there is little evidence of benefits, Australian researchers say. Their meta-analysis…
