Selections from current literature: Some common geriatric concerns

The geriatric population represents a continuum of the family life-cycle. At this stage of life, issues of social support, environmental assessment, occupational status, cognitive function, activities of daily living and physiological changes of organ systems all become pressing issues. As family physicians, we employ anticipatory guidance based on our knowledge of developmental tasks and events within the family life-cycle. We have chosen these articles for commentary because they single out important, common issues that are pertinent and specific to the growing elderly population: falls and their inherent possibility for loss of function and quality of life; driving and its implication of independence or dependence; memory and the emotionality surrounding its loss by equating its decline with loss of self; coping skills and their ability to provide sense of self; and personal skills as a means of maintaining integrity. The common thread inherent in all these articles is that optimizing functional capability is the physician's primary goal when caring for the elderly.