With dementia continuing to be the leading cause of death in Australian women and the second leading cause of death in Australian men**, it’s never been more important to address and prioritise geriatric medical care in the community.
According to Woy Woy based Geriatrician Dr Peter Lipski, supporting the health and wellbeing of older people starts with dispelling myths, negative stereotypes and applying a holistic care approach.
“Normal ageing does not necessarily correlate with declining health, intervention and prevention are perhaps more important than ever when it comes to caring for the elderly,” Dr Lipski said.
“It is critical to diagnose dementia early as this can play a big role in managing the progressive cognitive decline and allows for an early medical management plan.
“Carers can play an integral role in prevention by taking action around any noticeable decline in functionality or capability of their loved ones.
“If someone used to always go to the mail box to fetch their paper of a morning and suddenly is unable to do so, that is not old age, there is something else at play.
“Noticing small signs such as not coping at home, unexpected falls, sudden onset of confusion, or behavioural or personality challenges should be referred to a GP immediately.”
Brisbane Waters Private Hospital provides a comprehensive spectrum of care for elderly members of the community from treatment for complex geriatric conditions or illnesses such as incontinence, multi-organ disease, delirium and dementia through to falls and balance issues.
As there are a lot of supportive treatments options for dementia even though there is no cure, it is important to focus on prevention strategies to reduce risk of falls and fractures and support general health and wellbeing according to Dr Lipski.
“Noticing small signs such as not coping at home, unexpected falls, sudden onset of confusion, or behavioural or personality challenges should be referred to a GP immediately.”
“No one is ever too old for treatment, one of the reasons that Geriatric Medicine is so successful is because there is attention to detail, getting the simple things right and a holistic overview of the whole patient, not such a specific organ approach,” Dr Lipski said.
“Many carers are often afraid to confront their elderly loved ones about their health, but it is important to take action when there is any change rather than waiting for a ‘crisis’ to occur.
“If a GP and Geriatrician can help at the early onset of any functional issues,
it can change the long term outcome.”
Find out more about Brisbane Waters Private Hospital and the specialists who provide services at the Hospital via: https://brisbanewatersprivate.com.au/specialties
Access more around Dr Lipski’s work on providing care for elderly Australians via his book “Your Elderly Parents Failing Health.” Your Elderly Parents Failing Health: Is It Ageing Or A Treatable Condition?: Lipski, Dr Peter: Amazon.com.au: Books
**according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics
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