Illness as the Focus of Geriatric Medicine

Authors

Eugene Y. Berger, Morningside House
J. L.C. Dall, University of Ottawa
Mark E. Williams, Monroe Community Hospital
Nortin Hadler, UNC School of MedicineFollow

Abstract

To the Editor: The concern for illness, rather than disease, as the focus of geriatric medicine is a point well taken by Williams and Hadler (June 2 issue).1 However, I would beg to quarrel a bit with the idea of illness as the focus of geriatric medicine. Illness is a focus of geriatric medicine, as it is for medicine for any age. I offer “predicament” as the focus of geriatric medicine. The neighbor's son who was bringing in the groceries moves away; a 91-year-old gentlewoman is accosted by a stranger with a knife during her morning ablutions; the progression of. © 1983, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.

Publication Title

New England Journal of Medicine

Recommended Citation

Berger, E., Dall, J., Williams, M., & Hadler, N. (1983). Illness as the Focus of Geriatric Medicine. New England Journal of Medicine, 309 (12), 733-734. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM198309223091216