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Canadian Medical Association Journal logoLink to Canadian Medical Association Journal
. 1982 Aug 1;127(3):203–206.

Clinical assessment of the elderly patient.

R Skrastins, G M Merry, G M Rosenberg, J E Schuman
PMCID: PMC1861935  PMID: 7104901

Abstract

The examination of an elderly patient often requires special techniques and attention to the patient's comfort and ease. This paper outlines a reasonable approach to each phase of the interview and discusses the particular medical problems of this age group. Older people are often slow to bring their troubles to medical attention because their symptoms are vague or because they accept their disability as part of old age. Sometimes they have difficulty in communicating effectively with the physician. Simple patience can ease an otherwise frustrating situation.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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