Do you find dealing with elderly patients challenging?  Most of us do.  With American society “graying” at record levels,  the EMS needs of the elderly will continue to increase. 1n 1983,  26 million Americans were over the age of 65.  That number has now exceeds 40 million! As professionals, we need to be as proficient as possible with this material in order to treat this growing segment of the population effectively and with respect. Join JEMS Case of the Month author Paul Werfel as we cover case studies that highlight the following topics essential for prehospital practitioners: 

-PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES OF AGING 

-EFFECTIVELY ASSESSING THE OLDER PATIENT 

-HISTORY TAKING TECHNIQUES 

-PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT 

-SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS IN GERIATRIC TRAUMA 

- MEDICAL EMERGENCIES IN THE OLDER PATIENT 

-PHARMACOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE OLDER PATIENT 

- ELDER ABUSE 

Objectives: 

At the end of this presentation the student will be able to: 

- Identify the changes that take place in the aging process 

- Discuss the problems associated with assessing the emergent geriatric patient 

- Discuss the various medical and surgical emergencies that occur in the elderly 

- Develop strategies for dealing with these emergencies in the geriatric population