OPINION
DOCTORS Lounge
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Sometimes the patient has trouble finding the page. There are apps for that. The American Geriatrics Society has reviewed several of them, to add measurement to figuring out if someone is capable of independent decision-making or truly cannot remember the facts and figures necessary to do so. The“ ESLUMS” app has a digital voice that leads you through the 24-question mental status exam developed at St. Louis University. However, this takes so long that someone else in your office, if it is primary care, will have to give the test, and eventually you’ ll want to upgrade to the Pro version, which costs five dollars. Another app, the American Geriatrics Society’ s GEMS, requires a $ 10 annual fee, and contains a lot of references and advice about
avoiding polypharmacy and recognizing the best treatments for people with many things wrong with them at once. I decided that Googling for free is better, if you are at all acquainted with the issues. The Alzheimer’ s Association has multiple downloadable and printable cognitive assessment tools. A very useful one is the AD8, which has the family or loved one answer eight questions about the patient’ s day-to-day functioning.
That leaves the question of what to call us.“ Senior” seems to be socially acceptable but dull.“ Old” could just be an appliance, and I rather think a more respectful term would be better. Someone has suggested“ Perennials” as a name for us. Even if I thought of myself as an English Laurel, I can’ t think this would make someone take me seriously at 90.“ Elderly” can imply frailty.“ Seasoned” has been suggested, which just makes me laugh.
Therefore, I stick with Elder. That has the sense of wise and experienced, as in the elders of the tribe. It has a sense of personage, as opposed to a Maytag. It has presence. It does not for instance imply knitting, but rather thinking.
I hope my fellow elders will welcome me to the council.
Dr. Barry practices Internal Medicine with Norton Community Medical Associates-Barret. She is a clinical associate professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Department of Medicine.
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