G E R I A T R I C   M E D I C I N E

Gerontology

An Ageing Assessment

​Ageing and the Art of Ageing Well
There are a few fundamentals in the ageing process…it is inevitable and we should approach this phase of life gracefully.
By definition, we are ‘aged’ or considered ‘geriatric’ when we are past 70 years. But, in these modern times, we are all living longer, better and healthier lives.
 
Prevention is better that cure – as the adage goes - and the purpose of introducing Gerontology to this Cranial Osteopathy Practice is to approach the ageing process positively and to ensure that body and mind are functional and supportive for living.
 
By definition: Gerontology is the study of the social, cultural, psychological, cognitive and biological aspects of ageing. It's about ageing gracefully and maintaining your bodys' capacity for mobility and vitality. Gerontology is the study of the physical aspects of ageing, as well as the mental, social and societal implications of ageing. ... Unlike geriatrics, which concentrates on the medical aspects of ageing bodies and how they change and adjust to change in elder years, the field of gerontology has a multidisciplinary focus.
 
Geriatric conditions such as functional impairment and dementia are common and frequently unrecognised or inadequately addressed in older adults.

"Geriatric syndrome" is a term that is often used to refer to common health conditions in older adults that do not fit into distinct organ-based disease categories and often have multifactorial causes. The list includes conditions such as cognitive impairment, delirium, incontinence, malnutrition, falls, gait disorders, pressure ulcers, sleep disorders, sensory deficits, fatigue, and dizziness. These conditions are common in older adults, and they may have a major impact on quality of life and disability.

In this practice, we open a conversation to assess ageing as a multidisciplinary diagnostic and treatment process that identifies medical, psychosocial and functional limitations that become part of the ageing process in order to develop a coordinated plan to maximise overall health with ageing.
 
We bring into the treatment elements of Life and Health Coaching – as a preparation and conversation to answer the question: ‘How well am I going to age?’ - ultimately the answer and destination are in your hands.

Dementia

"Dementia is not a disease. Dementia is a broad term for symptoms caused by brain disease. It's loss of cognitive functions. 
Cognition is the ability to think, to remember, to reason. Dementia shows up most often as memory loss.

Dementia can cause difficulty controlling one's emotions or trouble with finding words. It can present as personality changes or an inability to focus or pay attention. Struggles with reasoning, thinking straight, or remembering things are hallmarks of dementia.
The loss of cognitive functioning results in unusual behaviours. A problem with these functions means disease is affecting the brain. This process is part of brain failure.

Everyone has heard of heart failure, or kidney failure, ...when conditions in the body systems cause the body to stop functioning properly - failure is the termed used because the organ is now failing to function in the body. The same thing can happen to the brain.
When the brain fails it can no longer think straight, remember or reason.
A critical point to understand is that dementia is not a normal part of ageing. Reversible symptoms of dementia include infection, vitamin deficiency and thyroid dysfunction. Advancing age is a risk factor for dementia, but doesn't invariably lead to it."
​Gail Weatherill author of 'The Caregiver's Guide to Dementia'

Differences between Normal Ageing and Dementia

  • Memory
    With normal aging, you might occasionally forget a word or the day of the week, but you'll be able to remember it later. With dementia, you might have trouble following a conversation or finding the right words, or you might lose track of time and place. 
  • Decision-making
    With normal aging, you might make a bad decision occasionally. With dementia, you might have poor judgment and decision-making, such as decreased self-care or ability to handle money. 
  • Everyday tasks
    With normal aging, you might need occasional help with tasks, like setting up a new device. With dementia, you might have difficulty carrying out everyday tasks, like food shopping or driving to a familiar place. 
  • Mood and behavior
    With normal aging, you might feel sad and moody sometimes. With dementia, you might experience more severe changes, like becoming tearful or upset for no obvious reason. 
  • Mobility
    With normal aging, you might experience pain and stiffness when walking, or have reduced tolerance to walk long distances. With dementia, you might be at increased risk of falls, need a lot of help with eating, or have difficulty swallowing.
This is for informational purposes only.
​For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.