This document discusses aging and healthcare for the elderly in Saudi Arabia. It notes that the older population is increasing due to improved health and living standards. This creates greater demand for primary care physicians and geriatric services. Proper care of the elderly requires treating medical issues while also optimizing function and providing support. Many current physicians lack training in geriatrics.

2. “ It is Allah Who created you in a state of weakness, then gave (you)
strength after weakness, then, after strength, gave (you weakness
and a hoary head: He creates as He wills, and it is He Who has all
knowledge and power”
‫ه‬‫م‬
ُ
‫ث‬ ٍ‫ف‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫ض‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬‫م‬
ُ
‫ك‬
َ
‫ق‬
َ
‫ل‬
َ
‫خ‬ ‫ي‬ ِ‫ذ‬
‫ه‬
‫ال‬ ُ ‫ه‬
‫اَّلل‬‫ه‬‫و‬
ُ
‫ق‬ ٍ‫ف‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫ض‬ ِ‫د‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫ب‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ َ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬ َ‫ج‬‫ه‬‫م‬
ُ
‫ث‬
ً
‫ة‬
ً
‫ة‬َ‫ب‬ْ‫ي‬
َ
‫ش‬َ‫و‬ ‫ا‬ ً‫ف‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫ض‬ ٍ‫ة‬‫ه‬‫و‬
ُ
‫ق‬ ِ‫د‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫ب‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ َ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬ َ‫ج‬َ‫و‬ ُ‫ه‬َ‫و‬ۖ ُ‫اء‬
َ
‫ش‬َ‫ي‬ ‫ا‬ َ‫م‬ ُ‫ق‬
ُ
‫ل‬
ْ
‫خ‬َ‫ي‬ ُۚ‫يم‬ِ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬
ْ
‫ال‬
ُ‫ير‬ ِ‫د‬
َ
‫ق‬
ْ
‫ال‬(54)
‫قال‬ُ‫ل‬‫و‬ُ‫س‬َ‫ر‬‫وسلم‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫صلى‬ ِ ‫ه‬‫اَّلل‬:
"ْ‫م‬ َ‫ح‬ْ‫ر‬َ‫ي‬ ْ‫م‬
َ
‫ل‬ ْ‫ن‬ َ‫م‬‫ا‬
َ
‫ن‬َ‫ير‬ِ‫غ‬َ‫ص‬،ِ‫ب‬
َ
‫ك‬ ‫ه‬‫ق‬ َ‫ح‬
ْ
‫ف‬ِ‫ر‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫ي‬َ‫و‬‫ا‬
َ
‫ن‬ِ‫ير‬،‫ا‬‫ه‬‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ َ‫س‬ْ‫ي‬
َ
‫ل‬
َ
‫ف‬"
‫الروم‬ ‫سورة‬
‫الباني‬ ‫وصححه‬ ‫للبخاري‬ ‫المفرد‬ ‫األدب‬
"Anyone who does not show mercy to our children nor
acknowledge the right of our old people is not one of us."

6. KSA ageing population

7. Environmental
Health
ANCIMMUNIZATION
CHRONIC
DISEASES
CHILD HEALTH
CARE
ADOLESENCE

13.  A specialty that focuses on health care of elderly people.
 Aims to promote health by preventing
& treating diseases & disabilities in
older adults.
note the difference between
geriatrics and gerontology
The term geriatrics comes from the Greek
(geron) meaning "old man" &
(iatros) meaning "healer"
“Medical care for the elderly”

15.  Geriatrics was first mentioned in Ayurveda, the
ancient Indian medicine (before 1500 BC)
The Arabic physician Algizar (898–980)
wrote a special book on the medicine
and health of the elderly.

16.  one of the first publications on geriatric medicine was “the
Diseases of Advanced Life” published in 1849 .
 The first modern geriatric hospital was founded
in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1881 by doctor Laza
Lazarević.
 Modern geriatrics in the United Kingdom began
with the "mother" of geriatrics, Dr. Marjorie
Warren

17.  The term geriatrics was proposed in 1909 by
Dr. Ignatz Leo Nascher a "father" of geriatrics
in the United States
 Another "hero"of British geriatrics is
Bernard Isaacs, who described the
"giants" of geriatrics
immobility and instability, incontinence,
& impaired intellect

19.  The United Nations has agreed that 60+ years may be
usually denoted as old age.
 However, for its study of old age in Africa, the World Health
Organization (WHO) set 50 as the beginning of old age.
 At the same time, the WHO recognized that the developing
world often defines old age, not by years, but by inability to
make active contribution to society.

21. Aging has become recently a
phenomenon of population trends
in Saudi Arabia with
improved health conditions and
standard of living.

26. fertility rates have declined in the last number of years,
leading to a smaller number of young people.1

27. The upward movement in life expectancy.2

28. The fluctuation in birth rates and death rates3

33. 1. Allow extra time for older patients.
2. Avoid distractions.
3. Sit face to face.

34. 4. Maintain eye contact.
5. Listen.
6. Speak slowly, and
loudly.
7. Use short, simple words &
sentences.

35. 8. Stick to one topic at a time.
9. Simplify and write
down your instructions
10. Use ,
models and
pictures.

41.  Early diagnosis of dementia
allows patients timely
access to medications and
helps families to make
preparations for the future.
 It can also help in the
management of other symptoms
that often accompany the early
stages of dementia, such as
depression and irritability.

44. o the unintentional leakage of urine
o affects approximately 15 million persons in
the United States, most of whom are older.
o associated with decubitus ulcers, sepsis, renal
failure, urinary tract infections, and increased
mortality.
o Psychosocial implications of incontinence
include loss of self-esteem, restriction of
social and sexual activities, and depression.
Urinary incontinence
incontinence is often a key deciding factor for
nursing home placement.

58. The older segment of society is showing a steady increase in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
This creates a concurrent demand for increased medical support,
mainly primary care physicians, family physicians and internists, in
the absence of qualified geriatricians.
The geriatric approach is to identify and treat significant problems
appropriately, and at the same time, to evaluate and optimize the
functional state of the patient and provide a constant support.
 Care of the elderly is not restricted to treatment of hypertension,
diabetes, and Falls associated with aging.

59.  A large proportion of general practitioners (GPs),family
physicians as well as internists have no formal training in
geriatrics. Many have not been reading the geriatric literature
or attending continuing medical education courses in geriatrics,
which are by themselves not commonly available.