Elderly Patient
Code
11190
Academic unit
NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
Department
MC
Credits
4
Teacher in charge
Profª Doutora Amália Botelho
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
The Curricular Unit of Elderly Patient has as a main goal to provide information and scientific knowledge in the field of gerontology and geriatrics, privileging a holistic comprehension of the patient which is transversal and integrated with the knowledge and clinical skills acquired at the MIM of NOVA Medical School.
Prerequisites
Subject matter
Regarding Ageing and Elderly people:
1. Introduction:
Demographic Aspects; Ageing: health and disease; Atypical presentation of disease; Ageism.
2. Biological Changes
Anatomical; Histological; Physiological. Systemic effects: Body Composition; Energy balance; Homeostenosis; Neurodegeneration.
3. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment
Systemic detection of biopsychosocial vulnerability.
4. Functionality
Performance and capacity in daily living activities;
5. Geriatric Syndromes
Concept; identification criteria; brief systematic detection; detection based on standardized instruments; triggering factors; related factors.
6. Falls, Gait and Physical Activity
Falls risk assessment; gait and physical activity characterization; Falls prevention; intervention and referral to physical activity.
7. Nutrition
Nutritional status assessment. Nutritional intervention and referral. Feeding processes.
8. Delirium
Concept; identification criteria; brief systematic detection; detection based on standardized instruments; triggering factors; related factors.
9. Dementia; Depression
Concepts; identification criteria.
Approach to common clinical problems in elderly patients with dementia and/or depression.
10. Frailty
Concept; assessment models.
11. Pharmacotherapy
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics; safety and iatrogenics; record, adherence and inappropriate use of medication; personalized prescription according to preferences and values.
12. Ethical and legal aspects
Abuse, violence and restraint; decision making
13. Multiprofessional approach
Health and social professionals roles and capacities; Referral.
14. Diagnosis and Intervention in Elderly People Individualized Care Plan (PIC)
Plenary Session Multiprofissional Round Table
15. Care Contexts
Health planning and promotion; Health care to elderly patients: primary, palliative and hospital care.
Bibliography
- Clinical problems of ageing (2008). Chapter 72. Part 5 Aging. Harrison's principles of internal
medicine. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical.
- Botelho, MA. Envelhecimento e Funcionalidade (2014). In: Envelhecimento, Saúde e Doença, Novos
Desafios para a Prestação de Cuidados a Idosos. Coordenação de António Fonseca. Coisas de Ler.
- Botelho, M.A. (2007) Idade Avançada características biológicas e multimorbilidade. Rev Port Clin
Geral 23:191-5
- Hazzard's geriatric medicine and gerontology (2009). McGraw-Hill Companies.
Teaching method
This Curricular Unit, on the school year of 2014/2015, is meant for students of the 4th year of MIM. Classes shall be theorical-practical and are composed of 6 groups of, on average 20 students, each semester.
Evaluation method
The Curricular Unit evaluation consists of continuous evaluation with regular feedback, and of a
final assessment.
- The continuous evaluation consists of attendance rate and compliance with the proposed tasks in
theorical-practical classes. There are scheduled, 14 weekly short term assessments which
represents 70% of the final curricular unit evaluation.
- The final assessment will comprehend a written examination with 30 multiple choice questions,
with 5 possible answers each. The exam will last 1 hour and represents 30% of the final evaluation.
- The final grade at this curricular unit is the result of the arithmetic average comprising the result of
the continuos evaluation and the written examination. Approval at this curricular unit means
achieving at least 10 values in each component.
- Minimal attendance requirement is of 2/3 of the total number of classes (equal to 10 classes),
without which the student will reprove. For those students that are legally exempt from the
minimal attendance, the continuous evaluation will be replaced by an oral exam, to be held on the Special Season scheduled date.