GEP Medicine in Society Handbook 2019/20

3.12. The Older Person

Aims

To introduce students to the concept of ageing both as a biomedical and social phenomenon, the demographic changes in the population and the implications for health and the use of services.

Preparatory work

• Read the recommended reading about ageing including a blog account of Elderspeak
• Considered the implications for society, and medical and social services of an increase in the elderly population

Objectives

By the end of the day, the student should be able to:

• Recognise ageing is a natural, developmental process
• Describe some of the different ways that the elderly are regarded within different groups and communities
• Describe the range of services; people and agencies are involved in the support of the older patient in the local community
• Explain some of the implications for the health and social services of an increasingly elderly population
• Identify key policy documents relating to care of older people

Suggested activities

• Tutorial on ageing and communication with an older person.
• Home visit to independent, healthy older person (See Appendix for guidance on home visits)
• Tutorial on Health promotion services for older people provided by the practice e.g. over 75 checks, meeting with health visitor for older people.
• Visit to local voluntary agency working with older people
• Debriefing Tutorial