Challenging Cases in Geriatric Medicine

Geriatric medicine is challenging – people present with multiple problems at the same time, and case studies provide a good way to discuss this complexity. This book describes 30 cases of older people with frailty presenting to acute medical services. They cover a wide range of common presentations and management issues and explore the interplay of acute illness, multimorbidity, and physical and cognitive impairments. The book focuses on medicine optimisation, shared decision-making and advance care planning using key test results and imaging studies. Management options are discussed where disease-specific guidelines may not provide the solution when treating older adults. Key Features: Provides real-world complex examples with consequent nuanced decision-making. Uses case studies to address interactions of acute illnesses, polypharmacy and physical and cognitive impairments for clinicians and trainees in geriatric and general internal medicine and general practitioners. Discusses patient-centred management – balance of risks and benefits of different options, including shared decision-making and advance care planning.