Care of older adults
This curriculum consists of the following areas.
Primary Care Management
The ability to:
- Manage primary contact with older patients dealing with unselected problems
- Cover the full range of health conditions
- Co-ordinate care with other professionals in primary and secondary care
- Master effective and appropriate care provision and health service utilisation
- Make available appropriate services within health and social care systems
- Act as an advocate for the patient
Person centred care
The ability to:
- Adopt a person-centred approach in dealing with older patients and their problems
- Bring about an effective doctor-patient relationship, respecting the patient's autonomy
- Communicate, set priorities and act in partnership
- Knowledge about how to provide long-term continuity of care, referring to coordinated care management
Specific problem solving skills
- Use prevalence and incidence of illness in the community in decision making
- Gather and interpret information and apply to a management plan in collaboration with the patient
- Effective and efficient use of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions
A comprehensive approach
- Managing multiple complaints and pathologies (acute and chronic) simultaneously
- Apply health promotion and disease prevention strategies appropriately
- Manage and coordinate health promotion, prevention, cure, care, rehabilitation and palliation
Community orientation
- Reconcile health needs of the individual and the community
- Balance health needs with available resources
Holistic approach
- The ability to use bio-psycho-social models
Contextual Approach
- Knowledge of key policy documents for healthcare provision for older people
- Recognise how geographical factors influences the treatment of older people
Attitudinal Aspects
- Awareness of personal opinions regarding risk factors for cardiovascular problems
- Ensure that these views do not influence management decisions
Scientific Aspects
- Understand and implement key national guidelines
- Describe the key research findings that influence management of older people