Primary Education Topic:
Policy and Advocacy
Other Education Topics:
Health & Wellness
Healthcare & Aging
Leadership in Aging
Legal & Ethical Issues
Clinical interventions and approaches that apply geriatric principles of care reduce functional decline, disability, and healthcare use, and improve health outcomes for older adults.
By Bruce Leff, Helen Kao, and Christine Ritchie
Initially established in 1935, the field of geriatrics has grown considerably and has made important contributions to understanding the nature of older adults and issues related to health service delivery for them. As Medicare turns fifty, this is an opportune moment to consider how principles of geriatrics care can be leveraged to inform Medicare policies and improve the care of older Americans.