[Geriatric medicine shapes the Future : Recommendations for modern Geriatric Medicine that places older people and their needs at the centre].

چکیده اصلی

Geriatric medicine is becoming increasingly more important in the context of demographic change. Older people frequently suffer from multimorbidity, functional impairments and complex psychosocial conditions that are often insufficiently addressed by a purely diagnosis-oriented medical approach. The primary aim of geriatrics is therefore not only the treatment of diseases but also with respect to individual goals, the preservation of independence, quality of life and social participation.This expert paper outlines the current state of geriatric care in Germany, its scientific evidence base and key challenges and future perspectives. Central elements of geriatric complexity medicine include comprehensive geriatric assessment, multiprofessional treatment concepts and cross-sectoral models of care. Numerous studies demonstrate that this approach improves functional outcomes, reduces the risk of long-term care dependency and reduces or shortens hospital stays.Despite established acute geriatric and rehabilitation structures, substantial deficits remain in nationwide access to care, financing, academic integration, research and professional training. Workforce shortages, insufficient outpatient services and the limited integration of geriatric principles into other medical specialties weaken the great opportunity that modern geriatric medicine offers for preventing the need for long-term care. At the same time, digitalization, telemedicine and innovative cross-sectoral care models offer new opportunities for patient-centered geriatric medicine.The authors advocate stronger structural and political support for geriatrics, the expansion of outpatient geriatric centers, financing systems that adequately reflect patient complexity and a stronger integration of geriatrics into research, teaching and medical education including a German Center for Geriatric Medicine with substantial involvement of geriatrics. In this way, geriatrics can make a major contribution to a sustainable, patient-centered and future-oriented healthcare system.

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