Geriatrics

Geriatric Medicine is a specialty of medicine concerned with physical, mental, functional and social conditions occurring in the acute care, chronic disease, rehabilitation, prevention, social and end of life situations in older patients.

This group of patients are considered to have a high degree of frailty and active multiple pathology, requiring a holistic approach. Diseases may present differently in old age, are often very difficult to diagnose, the response to treatment is often delayed and there is frequently a need for social support.

Geriatric Medicine therefore exceeds organ orientated medicine offering additional therapy in a multidisciplinary team setting, the main aim of which is to optimise the functional status of the older person and improve the quality of life and autonomy.

Geriatric Medicine is not specifically age defined but will deal with the typical morbidity found in older patients. Most patients will be over 65 years of age but the problems best dealt with by the speciality of Geriatric Medicine become much more common in the 80+ age group.

It is recognised that for historic and structural reasons the organisation of geriatric medicine may vary between European Member Countries.

As a research discipline geriatric medicine is relatively new in Norway.The research group in Trondheim has its basis in a systematic evaluation of patients admitted in the Department of Geriatrics at the St. Olav University Hospital from 1994 - 1996.

The Research Group in Geriatrics is focusing on three main areas in geriatric medicine:

1. Physical functioning, with emphasis on falls, consequences of falls, balance impairment, mobility problems and physical activity in older persons

2. Cognitive decline, both mild cognitive impairment and dementia

3. Clinical care pathways

The aim of the Research Group in Geriatrics is to become a nationally leading and an internationally significant research community in collaboration with other international research groups. Close cooperation with the primary health care in the city of Trondheim and clinical departments at the St Olav University Hospital is fundamental for the research group.

Research group members:

Olav Sletvold, professor dr. med.
Ingvild Saltvedt, ass. professor dr. med.
Jorunn Lægdheim Helbostad, senior researcher, physioterapist, dr. philos.
Pernille Thingstad, PhD student, physioterapist, M.Sc.
Kristin Taraldsen, PhD student, physioterapist, M.Sc.
Guro Stene, PhD student, physioterapist, M.Sc.
Randi Granbo, ass. professor, physioterapist, cand. polit.
Marianne Mesteig, occupational terapist, M.Sc.
Anders Prestmo, PhD student, physician
Elin Einarsen, RN, M. Sc. student
Ann-Kristin Lyngvær, RN, M.Sc. student
Espen Alexander Fürst Ihlen, PhD student, M.Sc.
Gro Bertheussen, PhD student, physician

Student researcher:
Kristoffer Andresen

Associated members:
Rolf Moe-Nilssen, professor, dr. philos, University of Bergen
Beatrix Vereijken, professor, PhD, Human Movement Science Programm, NTNU
Sarah Lamb, professor, PhD, Oxford University and Warwick University, UK
Stephen Lord, professor, PhD, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sidney, Australia.