Curriculum

Year One: Introduction to the Older Adult

  • The Geriatric Individual
    • Heterogeneity and differentiation
    • Theories of aging
    • Physiology of aging
    • Ageism; myths and stereotypes
    • Development in later life: cognitive, spiritual, sexual
  • Demographics and Politics of Aging
  • Medical Examination of the Older Adult Patient

Year Two: The Older Adult at Risk

  • Physiology of Aging
  • Functional Impairment
  • Age-Related Pathologies
  • Geriatric Pharmacology
  • Prevention in the Elderly

Year Three: Disease and Illness in the Older Adult

The third year medical students are exposed to ill older adults in virtually all of their clinical clerkships with the exception of pediatrics. It is essential that they be introduced to the set of knowledge competencies skills and attitudes necessary to provide basic quality care to the older patient, regardless of setting or clinical discipline. Clearly, many of the competencies listed below are attainable on various clinical rotations. Other, however, would best be addressed within the context of the Doctoring 3/Longitudinal Experience setting.

  • Geriatric "Syndromes" (see the Geriatric Blackboard site)
  • Chronic Care Differentiated from Acute Care
  • Organ Failure; Multiple Systems Failure
  • Determinants of "Quality of Life"

Year Four: The Older Adult and the Health Care System

  • The Ethics of Aging
  • Acute and Emergent Care of the Older Person
  • Community Care of the Older Person
  • The Long Term Care System
  • Integrated and Coordinated Care of the Older Person
  • Death and Dying