Aging is associated with dynamic changes in the biological,physiological,behavioral and social processes.Wile some changes such as graying hair and thinning,wrinkled skin maybe benign,others result in declines in function of some organs and activities of daily living.Susceptibility to illnesses is also increased.

With the changes,the elderly are predisposed to abuse.For instance,due to their body weakness and physical dependence,they may experience physical abuse and may be reluctant to speak out.Furthermore,cognitive impairment may expose them to financial exploitation and neglect.

While assessing a geriatric patient,the nurse needs to establish rapport with the patient to gain trust,minimize distractions and speak clearly.Most elderly patients also have a short attention span and impaired memory so plans should be made for a caregiver to be present in order to help with the history. Considerations for visual and hearing impairments also need to be made and aids put in place if available.Close attention should be made to the integumentary system as they made have some changes reflecting illnesses which may be mistaken as normal aging characteristics. Depressive illness in the elder population is a serious health concern leading to unnecessary suffering, impaired functional status, increased mortality, and excessive use of health care resources so the nurse should be keen to assess the mood of the patient.

Older persons are often prescribed multiple medications by different health care providers, putting them at increased risk for drug-drug interactions and adverse drug events.Thus review of the patient's medications at visit is important. The best method of detecting potential problems with polypharmacy is to have patients bring in all of his/her medications (prescription and nonprescription) in their bottles

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