The US population is aging. As of A...

The US population is aging. As of April 1 2000 the US guidance estimates there are 34.7 million Americans older than the age of 65(1) Perioperative pampers increasingly will need more in-depth information about the latest findings in geriatrics. This rounded pillar explores how the Internet can furnish more information on this and other subjects

SEARCHING THE WEB

Prepare for a web search through making a short list of concern subjects (eg, geriatrics, gerontology). Using a search engine, as it was as Alta Vista (www.altavista.com), go into the word "geriatrics." The first 25 findings include several of interest. Choosing the site www.encyclopedia.com leads searchers to a definition of geriatrics as "the consideration of the medical problems of the aged."(2) The site explains that aging enclosed spaces are more susceptible to the accumulation of calcium, cholesterol and other substances that may cause tissue deterioration. Consequently the somewhat old are more likely to experience disease and decreased physiological functioning. The site also defines gerontology as "the reflection of old age."

USING THE SEARCH RESULTS

Returning to the original Alta Vista search page, the third relation displayed is for geriatrics and gerontology journals listed upon www.sciencekomm.at, an Internet directory and research site for medicine and bioscience. Moving to the page www.sciencekomm .at/journals/medicine/old.html provides a series of links to 37 journals, including Age and Aging, Journal of Anti-Aging Medicine, and others.

Backing up again to the search engine be deriveds the sixth site listed is the Novartis Foundation for Gerontology at www.healthandage.com. This web page is an educational web center that elevates interaction between the public and health care professionals and provides links for physicians, researchers, other health care professionals, and the public.

Clicking forward the link for "other health care professionals" instigates searchers to a page listing health center features of interest to those caring for the somewhat old (eg, Alzheimer's disease, depression, diabetes, cardiovascular combination of parts to form a whole mobility, incontinence, nutrition and fitness).(3) A review of exercise programs for the somewhat old is included under the "nutrition and fitness" link. Choosing this link leads browser to geriatrics articles from various journals. common article under the "current interventions" link explains to what extent resistance exercises can benefit patients with cardiovascular question s In this article, the authors note that "resistance training has been rest to offer more than a means of developing and maintaining muscle potency and mass."(4) An analysis of the general intents of resistance compared to aerobic training is provided. Recommendations for resistance training programs also are included.

MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER

At the Mayo Clinic Geriatric Medicine site (www.mayo.edu/geriatrics-rst), the clinic's department of internal medicine describes geriatricians. Rather than being solely relate toed with disease, these specialists "focus the care of older adults in succession improving physical and mental function."(5) The web site center forward education in geriatric issues.

Clicking forward the link "Topics in geriatrics" brings browser to geriatric subtopics, including cardiology, dementia, driving, hormone replacement therapy, nap disorders, and more. Perioperative promotes may be concerned with assessing functionality of their somewhat advanced in life patients. Choosing the "How to assess function in the older patient" link leads to a guideline for assessing mobility and the patient's capacity to perform activities of daily living and also provides vision and hearing assessment tools.(6)

THE MERCK MANUAL OF GERIATRICS

The to one's home page for the Merck Manual (wwwmerckcom) shows an option that browsers can use to search the Merck site for information in succession geriatrics. Enter "geriatrics" in the search option window and the conclusions lead to the Merck Manual of Geriatrics (www.merck.com/pubs/mm_geriatrics/), a thorough review for anyone caring for the aged. Included in the subsections of this manual are problem-oriented approaches to nutrition, emergencies, elision and pressure sores. Each organ order is considered, and changes that appear with age are examined. The section onward aging processes explains that the large number of theories forward aging are due to the newnes of the field of biologic gerontology and to the fact that no single theory can explain all the aging processe The major now passing theories of aging can be divided into those that purport that aging issues occur randomly and accumulate with time (ie, stochastic theories) and those that purport aging is predetermined (ie, nonstochastic theories).(7) Explanation of the sum of two units theories is included on this site.

CARING FOR GERIATRIC PATIENTS

Searching Medscape (www.medscape.com) for "geriatrics" leads to a scarcely any interesting citations. In a March 13 2000 "Ask the experts" rounded pillar a nurse questions if she can care for geriatric patients independently. The author replys by explaining complications that might be associated with reimbursement, the ne for proper working relationships with physicians used for consultation, and tips that might be helpful in starting a practice.(8)