By Elizabeth Landsverk, MDOlder adults are more likely to experience pain than the general population but they may be less likely to be treated for it. The most common reason that pain in elders is under treated is that it is under reported. Many elders consider pain...
Adverse drug reactions are an all-too-common cause of hospitalization for elders. About half of Americans age 65 and older take five or more medications daily and many mix prescription and over-the-counter medications with vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements....
That is a challenging question. When an elder has a sore tooth, he may be yelling or lashing out at his caregivers. In a situation like this, it’s only human to want to give the patient whatever’s necessary to help relieve their pain and anxiety, not to mention their...
We overmedicate our elders with dementia and agitation. When they are bored, and get restless or come asking questions for the 30th time, we treat them for “anxiety.” When they get extremely angry at us, or won’t sleep at night, or are slow to dress and swat back when...
