A modern approach to a geriatric patient: Half a century of geriatric medicine in Serbia

Abstract

What is specific about the modern approach to geriatric patients? First of all, it is the approach to elderly patients, whose primary target is not a particular disease or the treatment of a system of organs, but the treatment of the entire person. If our interdisciplinary team's knowledge and efforts do result in healing an elderly person, we do not consider ourselves successful unless there is a complete recovery or, in other words, unless the elderly patient is back on their feet. The modern approach to geriatric patients is based on 50 - year experience in clinical work with elderly patients, as well as on fundamental science, but it also applies current trends in the treatment of common diseases (e.g. the final stage of renal disease, arterial hypertension, diabetes). Finally, the approach is completed with specificities in treating elderly patients - i.e. focus on iatrogenesis and the application of geriatric assessment in everyday geriatric practice.