Arthritis And The Elderly

This book provides a comprehensive and practical overview of the knowledge required for the assessment and management of the older adult with arthritis and other rheumatological conditions. This book equips nurses and allied health professionals with the knowledge and skills to undertake a comprehensive holistic assessment to identify the physical, psychological and social impact of living with arthritis. It informs them on osteoarthritis, a leading cause of pain and disability in 10-15% of all adults over the age of 60. Polymyalgia rheumatic can prove challenging for the clinician to manage, whilst rheumatoid arthritis and gout, (two other inflammatory conditions) also have a substantial global burden. This book informs nurses and allied health professionals on to manage these conditions, as well as the symptoms of fatigue, pain and mood and how patients can be supported to engage in Self-Management. The pharmacological and non pharmacological approach to management is discussed in depth including the role of medications and exercise. The impact of arthritis on a person’s ability to engage in their day to day activities and social participation is also explored.

This concise guide provides nurses with the tools to help older adults with arthritis achieve the highest possible quality of life. Practical tips on nursing management, self care, and the importance of exercise are a focus throughout. Part one presents specific arthritic conditions in a uniform format -- epidemiology, clinical features and management, diagnosis, pharmacotherapy, and nursing management and interventions. Part two presents general strategies for managing arthritis, including comprehensive chapters on a pain management, exercise, and patient teaching. Any nurse working with the elderly will find this a fundamental resource.

This book will enable readers to understand the principles underpinning the management of pain which a particular emphasis upon the care of the older adult. The chapters will explore concepts that are recognised to be involved in the pain experience but each author will then add their own unique perspective by applying the principles to their specialist area of practice and the care of the older adult. It is structured to include the aims and outcomes of the chapter at the beginning so that readers can track their progress, and provides chapter outlines and further reading suggestions foir this unique topic area.

This book provides a practical guide to the diagnosis and management of rheumatic disease in geriatric patients. It details information on the effect of ageing on musculoskeletal and immune systems and specifies impact of a variety of inflammatory and degenerative rheumatic disorders on the elderly. The clinical diagnostic approach to an older individual with musculoskeletal complaints is a cornerstone of this book, which includes also insights into the most important comorbidities for this age and discusses in depth available treatments and rehabilitation tools. The symptoms, imaging features and recommendations on the interpretation of specific laboratory tests for rheumatic diseases in geriatrics are also covered. This book encompasses traditionally associated with older age conditions including temporal arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, osteoarthritis, as well as common systemic autoimmune diseases that can produce atypical manifestations in the elderly. It will enable the readers to develop a thorough understanding of how to deal with these patients in their clinical practice. Rheumatic Disease in Geriatrics: Diagnosis and Management systematically describes how to diagnose and treat geriatric patients with a variety of rheumatic conditions and is a valuable resource for all medical professionals involved.

This issue of Rheumatic Disease Clinics, guest edited by Drs. James Katz and Brian Walitt with the NIH, will cover several key aspects of diagnosing and treating Rheumatic Diseases in Older Adults. The Consulting Editor for the series is Dr. Michael Weisman. The topics discussed in the issue will include: Pharmacotherapy Pearls for the Geriatrician, Pathogenesis and Management of Sarcopenia, A Review of Osteoporosis in the Older Adult, Regional Rheumatic Disorders and Rehabilitation in Older Adults, Rheumatologic Manifestations of Malignancy, Sjögren Syndrome and Other Causes of Sicca in Older Adults, Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases, Update on Crystal-Induced Arthritides, Immune dysregulation in aging with a focus on B cells and their potential clinical consequence, and Spinal Stenosis, among others.

The first book dedicated explicitly to the care of elderly patients with rheumatic diseases, this comprehensive resource is a practical guide for navigating the medical concerns of these complex patients. While patients over 65 years of age comprise roughly 15% of the population, they consume about 50% of rheumatology resources. This book presents current clinical practices with an eye toward achieving economically sustainable models of care. The world’s leading authorities have come together to cover the full spectrum of rheumatic diseases, the immune system in aging, and ultrasound evaluation and arthrocentesis. The book also addresses the milieu of co-morbidities that the clinician may encounter with an older patient, as well as the accompanying concerns about multiple pharmacologic therapies and drug interactions. Bringing in experts from a wide array of subspecialties, the editors present the essentials of multidisciplinary care, an approach which is the hallmark of geriatrics and which naturally translates into the field of gerontorheumatology. Designed for primary care physicians and rheumatology consultants, Geriatric Rheumatology is an invaluable guide to caring for this rapidly growing patient population.

This book provides the first comprehensive overview of a new scientific discipline termed Geroscience. Geroscience examines the molecular and cellular mechanisms that might explain why aging is the main risk factor for most chronic diseases affecting the elderly population. Over the past few decades, researchers have made impressive progress in understanding the genetics, biology and physiology of aging. This book presents vital research that can help readers to better understand how aging is a critical malleable risk factor in most chronic diseases, which, in turn, could lead to interventions that can help increase a healthy lifespan, or ‘healthspan.’ The book begins with an analysis of the Geroscience hypothesis, as well as the epidemiological underpinnings that define aging as a candidate main risk factor for most chronic diseases. Next, each chapter focuses on one particular disease, or group of diseases, with an emphasis on how basic molecular and cellular biology might explain why aging is a major risk factor for it. Coverage in the book includes: cancer, cardiovascular disease, dementias, stroke, Parkinson's and Alzheimer’s diseases, osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes asthma, emphysema, kidney disease, vision impairment, and AIDS/HIV. It finishes with a chapter on pain in the elderly and an overview of future steps needed to bring the newly acquired knowledge into the clinic and the public at large.