AGS Discussion Boards on Facebook

The American Geriatrics Society’s Facebook page now includes a section where members and non-members alike can post discussion topics and comment on issues related to geriatric care.

Go to facebook.com/AmericanGeriatricsSociety to find the new Discussions section in the left hand tool bar.

The Geriatric Resource Information Program (GRIP)

The Geriatric Resource Information Program (GRIP) from the University of Minnestota Center on Aging, links to 15 up-to-date, highly informative video lectures recently developed by experts on key health care topics pertinent to the care of older individuals.

Topics include:

• End of Life Care
• Nursing Home Care
• Dementia
• Drug Therapy
• Incontinence
• Elder Abuse
• Geriatric Rehabilitation
• Assessment

....and more

http://www.hpm.umn.edu/coa/Center on Aging GRIP links.htm

Geriatricians and the Management of Long-Term Conditions

A reference document from the British Geriatrics Society:

http://www.bgs.org.uk/Publications/Publication%20Downloads 0909_Management%20of%20long%20term%20conditions.pdf

2009 Edition of Geriatrics at Your Fingertips

Geriatrics At Your Fingertips (GAYF) is an annually updated reference that provides immediate access to the comprehensive information needed to care for older adults in a variety of healthcare settings.

GAYF is a clinical tool for all physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, and other care providers, as well as for all healthcare professionals-in-training.

 

The completely revised 2009 edition reflects new clinical guidelines, diagnostic and treatment options, and newly released medications. It features:

• A variety of assessment tools and algorithms
• Recommended diagnostic tests
• Tables with specific information on appropriate prescribing for older adults
• Useful web sites and phone numbers for providers and patients
• A detailed medication and subject index

 http://www.geriatricsatyourfingertips.org/front-back/intro.asp

 

Recommendations for Core Competencies in Geriatrics for Medical Students in Canada

The Education Committee of the Canadian Geriatrics Society (CGS) is proposing twenty core competencies in the care of older patients for Canadian undergraduate medical students in the areas of: cognitive impairment; functional assessment; falls, balance and gait disorders; medication management; biology of aging and atypical presentation of disease; adverse events; urinary incontinence; transitions of care and healthcare planning.

To view the full set of recommendations, go to: http://www.canadiangeriatrics.com/pdfs/core_EN.pdf

Organization Design for Geriatrics: An Evidence-based Approach

From the Regional Geriatric Programs of Ontario, this newly released handbook is aimed at providing an evidence-based approach to service delivery for the elderly patient in core specialized geriatric services.

Core services include:

• geriatric rehabilitation
• assessment and consultation
• geriatric outreach
• outpatient clinics
• geriatric day hospitals
• condition-specific units
• innovative areas of care

Each chapter follows the same general layout:

• executive summary
• definition and description of the service
• description of information sources used
• recommendations from the literature

http://www.rgpc.ca/best/RGP%20-%20Handbook/RGP%20Handbook%20-%20Organization%20design%20for%20geriatrics%20FINAL.pdf

Geriatrics Interprofessional Interorganizational Collaboration

The GiiC initiative is a collaboration of the Regional Geriatric Programs of Ontario located in Hamilton, Kingston, London, Ottawa and Toronto, the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health (CERAH) at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay and the North East Specialized Geriatric Services (NESGS) Group in Sudbury. CERAH and the NESGS Interest Group are affiliated with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

This website contains a wealth of knowledge to practice resources 18+ geriatric themes, including:
advance directives, capacity assessment, caregiver support, delirium, dementia screening, depression, and more.

http://www.rgpc.ca/best/GiiC%20Resources/index.html

Geriatric and Stroke Medicine Bulletin

This is the first issue of a bulletin for those interested in the care of older patients written by, Declan O’Kane MD FRCP Consultant Physician, Stroke and Geriatric medicine, East and North
Hertfordshire NHS trust.

Age-friendly Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres Toolkit

All primary health care workers need to be well versed in the diagnosis and management of the chronic diseases and the so-called four giants of geriatrics (memory loss, urinary incontinence, depression and falls/immobility) that often impact people as they age.

The toolkit's purpose is to:

• improve the primary health care response for older persons.
  sensitize and educate primary health care workers about the specific needs of their older clients.
• assist primary health workers in how to operate the geriatric care instruments/tools contained in the toolkit.
• raise awareness of the accumulation of minor/major disabilities experienced by older people to primary health care workers.
• provide guidance on how to make primary health care management procedures more responsive to the needs of older people's needs.
  offer direction on how to do environmental audits to test primary health care centres for their age-friendliness.
  

The toolkit comprises a number of instruments (evaluation forms, slides, figures, graphs, diagrams, scale tables, country guidelines, exam sheets, screening tools, cards, checklists, etc.) that can be used by primary health care workers to assess and address older persons' health. These resources are meant to supplement and not to replace local and national materials and guidelines.

Download toolkit [pdf 2.32Mb]
Download Trainer guide [pdf 304kb]
Download Normal ageing -Power Point presentation [pdf 434kb]
Download Communication with older people -Power Point presentation [pdf 432kb]

Clinical Governance and Older People in 2008

British Geriatrics Society Compendium Document 1.5:

http://www.bgs.org.uk/Publications/Compendium/compend_1-5.htm

Clinical Toolbox for Geriatric Care

The Clinical Toolbox for Geriatric Care, developed by the Society of Hospital Medicine Geriatric Task Force, provides hospitalists with a compendium of resources to facilitate and improve inpatient care of the elderly. Resources include practice guidelines; assessment tests for mental status, mobility, and pain; tools for predicting and preventing pressure ulcers; and more.

http://www.hospitalmedicine.org/geriresource/toolbox/howto.htm