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- Title
Improving the health care of geriatric patients.
- Authors
Becher, K.; Oelke, M.; Grass-Kapanke, B.; Flohr, J.; Mueller, E.A.; Papenkordt, U.; Schulte-Frei, B.; Steinwachs, K.-C.; Süss, S.; Wehling, M.
- Abstract
A multidisciplinary German expert group met in 2012 to discuss the current status and prospects of health care of geriatric patients with urinary incontinence in Germany. The purpose of this position paper is to raise awareness among health care providers for the challenges associated with adequate management of urinary incontinence in frail elderly. The experts agree that a multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for the successful treatment of urinary incontinence symptoms which are often associated with loss of autonomy and social isolation. For most geriatric patients, usually the general practitioner is the first contact when seeking help. Hence, the general practitioner plays a crucial role in the coordination of diagnosis and treatment. The involved health care providers should have adequate education and training in their respective disciplines and should be networked allowing quick turnaround times. Non-pharmacological treatments (e.g. behavioural interventions) should have been tried before any pharmacotherapy is initiated. If pharmacological treatment of urinary incontinence involves the use of anticholinergic agents, cognitive performance should be monitored regularly. If indicated, anticholinergic agents with a documented efficacy and safety profile, explicitly assessed in the elderly population, should be preferred.
- Subjects
GERMANY; MEDICAL care for older people; URINARY incontinence in old age; MEDICAL care; SICK people; AUTONOMY (Psychology) in old age; SOCIAL isolation
- Publication
Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie, 2013, Vol 46, Issue 5, p456
- ISSN
0948-6704
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00391-013-0491-y