36th Asian Medical Students' Conference 2015

Geriatric Medicine – Embracing the Silver Tsunami

 

The Silver Tsunami refers to the prospect of an ageing population and the overwhelming increase in both the scale and spectrum of problems associated with old age. Singapore is among the fastest ageing populations in the world with a projected one in five people to be over 65 years by 2030. This can be attributed in part to the improvements in medical technologies that lead to increasing lifespans as well as the low fertility rates. These issues plague not only Singapore but also developed nations across the world.

 

This Silver Tsunami poses significant challenges not only medically where chronic and age-related diseases are increasingly prevalent, but also socioeconomically where there are increased demands for medical services as well as social support services to support the elderly.

 

There are many possible subthemes that can be discussed in the scope of this conference and a short list is recommended below. For each subtheme, the understanding, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and post-treatment options should be addressed. The scope of what the individual chapters wish to address should not be limited to the topics as suggested below.

 

• Age-Related Disease: Age is a key risk factor for numerous diseases, which include but are not limited to geriatric syndromes (e.g. falls, incontinence, and disability), metabolic diseases (e.g. diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and obesity), cardiovascular diseases (e.g. atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, hypertension, and stroke), degenerative diseases (e.g. osteoporosis, osteoarthritis), neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and dementia), and cancer. Studies can consider the role of age in the development of such diseases and how to effectively prevent or manage such conditions and their complications.

• End-of-Life Care: Death is an inevitable end result of ageing and we must ultimately accept the fact that regardless of medical advancements, death is unavoidable. As such, palliative care services are crucial to ensure holistic care for patients.

• Mental Health: Research may focus on specific mental illnesses experienced by the elderly (e.g. depression), on their general state of mental health in the face of an aging population (e.g. anxiety issues) or on their state of psychological well-being in the face of other pre-existing medical conditions.

• Access to and Affordability of healthcare: Research may focus on the availability, convenience and ease of access to healthcare as well as any barriers to healthcare especially for the elderly who may face financial difficulties.

• Care for elderly: Disabled elderly or those with neurodegenerative or other degenerative conditions may need to be cared for closely by a caregiver or in a nursing home. Research may focus on the availability and quality of such care and issues faced by caregivers.