| CODE | GER5033 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Biological, Physiological and Medical Issues in Old Age | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Gerontology and Dementia Studies | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Candidates in this study-unit are made aware of the fact that ageing is a lifelong process starting from birth to death. During this process, the human body changes in its biological and physiological functions. It is within this light that a detailed analysis of these changes and their consequent effects on the different organs' systems and their characteristic features and syndromes in old age. The study-unit helps students to acquaint themselves with the characteristic features of illness in old age and to comprehend the geriatric syndromes including falls, immobility, incontinence, confusional states, and medication problems. Study-unit Aims: Through the use of case studies, students will be presented with an analytical frame to construct comprehensive geriatric assessment and management. A detailed comparative analysis of the various theories of biology of ageing will also be carried out. The study-unit demonstrates how and explains why, older persons can age differently whilst those who are frail and ill require specific assessments and management that differs from younger age groups. Participants will be enabled to distinguish what is the essential difference between physiology and pathology as applied to the various ageing human body systems. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - compare the different theories of aging; - demonstrate the physiological changes in organ systems with age; - analyse the various theories of ageing; - list the common features of normal and abnormal ageing; - explain frailty and its association with vulnerability; - identify the inter-relationship of medical, physical, functional and social problems and how they should all be assessed and managed; - relate the common geriatric giants, their causes, and how they should be managed. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - implement multidimensional and comprehensive geriatric assessments; - carry out measuring tools in clinical practice, for example the Mini Mental Score Examination, the Geriatrics Depression Score, the Barthel ADL index; - identify how and when these assessments and tools should be used; - differentiate the physiological characteristics of ageing from those attributed to disease associated with ageing; - construct a medical geriatric service. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts Fillit, H., Rockwood, K. and Woodhouse, K.W. (2010). Brocklehurst's textbook of geriatric medicine and gerontology. 7th Edition. ISBN 1-4160-6231-9. Gosney, M., Harper, A. and Conroy, S. (2012). Oxford desk reference geriatric medicine. 1st Edition. Oxford University Press. Masoro, E.J. (ed.) and Austad, S.N. Handbook of the biology of aging. 6th Edition. Pathy, M.S.J (ed.), Sinclair, A.J. and Morley, J.E. (2006). Pathy’s principles and practice of geriatric medicine. 4th Edition. Wiley. Supplementary texts Arking, R. (1998). Biology of aging: Observations and principles. Bowker, L.K., Price, J.D. and Smith, S.C. (2006). Oxford handbook of geriatric medicine. ISBN 1-4051-2033-9. Evans, Williams, Beattie, Michel and Wilcock (2000). Oxford textbook of geriatric medicine. 2nd Edition. ISBN 0192628305. Finch, C.E. The biology of human longevity: Inflammation, nutrition, and aging in the evolution of lifespans. Hazzard W.R., Blass J.P., Halter J.B., Ouslander J.G. and Tinetti M. (2003). Principles of geriatric medicine and gerontology. 5th Edition. ISBN-10: 0071402160. Timiras (2002). Physiological basis of ageing and geriatrics. 3rd Edition. ISBN 0849309484. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Fabian Bonello |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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