Health issues of the elderly & health quality

The geriatric population is growing in Turkey. Elderly population is predicted to be 9% in 2025. New approaches for the increasing elderly population is needed in order to let them have healthier and active lives. Successful aging can come true only in the comprehensive perspicacity, which has socioeconomical, psychological and medical dimensions. In older people, the characteristics of diseases include: the existence of multiple pathology; atypical presentation; presence of chronic and degenerative conditions and combination of physical, functional, mental and social problems. Therefore, in the elderly, a holistic approach is esential to provide an evaluation of organ systems and physical, mental, psychological, socioeconomic efficiency. In other words, the health status of the elderly must be taken into account by integral wholeness, instead of biological systems. Comprehensive assessment can be successful with interdisciplinary team management where the elderly and the family is in the center. Copyright © 2009 by Türkiye Klinikleri.