A ‘COMMON SENSE’ approach to geriatric patients in clinical practice
South Africa has a critical shortage of geriatricians and a growing ageing population. Most geriatric patients are cared for by their primary care practitioner who may not have been trained in the care of the older adult. The comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is the cornerstone of the geriatr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-03-01
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| Series: | South African Family Practice |
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| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6027 |
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| author | Lara S. Greenstein |
| author_facet | Lara S. Greenstein |
| author_sort | Lara S. Greenstein |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | South Africa has a critical shortage of geriatricians and a growing ageing population. Most geriatric patients are cared for by their primary care practitioner who may not have been trained in the care of the older adult. The comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is the cornerstone of the geriatric consultation but can be time-consuming. By using a common sense approach to the geriatric patient, none of the important components of the CGA will be missed. The mnemonic ‘COMMON SENSE’ can be used as a tool to assist in identifying the common conditions that older adults experience, as well as highlight specific considerations that become increasingly important in this population. Many simple and time-effective screening tools are available to assist in diagnosing the geriatric syndromes which can be easily implemented in a busy primary care practice. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e9fb3516e0d94da5a48bc113736e2693 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-e9fb3516e0d94da5a48bc113736e26932025-08-20T03:47:07ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042025-03-01671e1e510.4102/safp.v67i1.60274925A ‘COMMON SENSE’ approach to geriatric patients in clinical practiceLara S. Greenstein0Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; and, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Helen Joseph Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgSouth Africa has a critical shortage of geriatricians and a growing ageing population. Most geriatric patients are cared for by their primary care practitioner who may not have been trained in the care of the older adult. The comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is the cornerstone of the geriatric consultation but can be time-consuming. By using a common sense approach to the geriatric patient, none of the important components of the CGA will be missed. The mnemonic ‘COMMON SENSE’ can be used as a tool to assist in identifying the common conditions that older adults experience, as well as highlight specific considerations that become increasingly important in this population. Many simple and time-effective screening tools are available to assist in diagnosing the geriatric syndromes which can be easily implemented in a busy primary care practice.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6027common sensescreening toolsgeriatrics syndromescomprehensive geriatric assessmentcommon geriatric conditions |
| spellingShingle | Lara S. Greenstein A ‘COMMON SENSE’ approach to geriatric patients in clinical practice South African Family Practice common sense screening tools geriatrics syndromes comprehensive geriatric assessment common geriatric conditions |
| title | A ‘COMMON SENSE’ approach to geriatric patients in clinical practice |
| title_full | A ‘COMMON SENSE’ approach to geriatric patients in clinical practice |
| title_fullStr | A ‘COMMON SENSE’ approach to geriatric patients in clinical practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | A ‘COMMON SENSE’ approach to geriatric patients in clinical practice |
| title_short | A ‘COMMON SENSE’ approach to geriatric patients in clinical practice |
| title_sort | common sense approach to geriatric patients in clinical practice |
| topic | common sense screening tools geriatrics syndromes comprehensive geriatric assessment common geriatric conditions |
| url | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6027 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT larasgreenstein acommonsenseapproachtogeriatricpatientsinclinicalpractice AT larasgreenstein commonsenseapproachtogeriatricpatientsinclinicalpractice |