Brazil's Geriatrics and Gerontology League by Andre Guerra

The Geriatrics and Gerontology League is composed by academics interested in studying and developing activities on behalf of the elderly. The student body is compose by the following carreers - from medicine, nursing, phonoaudiology, physical therapy, psychology, nutrition, dentistry, physical education and acting (theater). They
work together to give a multidisciplinary  and interdisciplinaty support for the elderly

 Some of their activities are:

- University of Third Age: academics give classes about a subject on health every saturday morning. The elderly are a multiplier of the information given in the community where they live in

- Home Care Program: once a week academics have classes about a certain sbuject. And they visit the aged ones, in need, who has the same pathology that was teached during the class. The visit occurs at he homes of the elderly in assistance w/ some professional support. By the end of the month the students discuss the case along w/ the professionals.

- Ambulatory: the students give assistance in the ambulatory. It is the place where the students discuss the right conduct w/ the professionals.

We also do some exchange among all the Geriatric Leagues in the State of Sao Paulo (BRA), to what every one is doing, and to make a point to do a common research w/ all..

Every year, there is a National Campaign nominated - The Elderly Vaccination Day that only exists due to a Leagues' work.

We will also  be holding a Congress by the year 2001. It is the II Paulista Geriatric and Gerontologic Congrress - from April 19th to 22nd, 2001 at the Transamerica Hotel in Sao Paulo, Brazil. On to this Congress, there will be too the first Simposium for the Leagues on Geriatric and Gerontology. We will present a briefing about all the activities we do and the results of two researches - "The elderly profile" and "The geriatric physician - the profile" to the Geriatrics and Gerontologic Brazilian Society..

                                                                 Andre Guerra

 

Reflections on Ageing in Lebanon by Heitham A. Abdul-Baki.

"…Just like a big baby, asking for attention…" That is the usual Lebanese reaction to an elderly who's complaining of his pains. Generally, people presume that the "pains" that an old man or woman feel are minor discomforts, but the person, in a sense, makes a "big deal" out of them just to gain the attention of the people around him/her. Unfortunately, it usually takes an individual a lifetime to understand the real worries of being an elderly in a society that undermines his health problems. Recent statistics show that, in Lebanon, like in most other countries of the world, medical staff and health care professionals have little understanding of the special medical attention that the elderly require. On the bright side, the increase in elderly population, and the elevation of the mean life expectancy (regional and worldwide) has brought these concerns to our attention.

The typical Lebanese family, like in most other Arab countries, still has a sense of family values that obligates (for the lack of a better word) the individuals of that family to look after each other throughout their lives. This way of life has been facilitated by the very structure of the Lebanese society that dictates the intense interactions between individuals and families. Meaning, an individual may rely on his family for socioeconomic support even after becoming a legal adult. Such support is emphasized mostly during childhood and old age (above sixty years of age). This is crucial for the survival and well being of the Lebanese individual, especially that the Lebanese government and constitution does not protect the rights and supply the needs of the elderly sufficiently. The blame does not lie on the government, because the constitution was built to be compatible with social values that Lebanese upheld a few decades ago. However, change is inevitable. As the elderly population, which is usually economically non-productive, increases quickly, it creates an economic burden on the younger productive generations, which necessitates the aid of the government. Unfortunately, the Lebanese government, like other third world governments (if there is such a term), is still in a state of achieving balance and stability, so individual needs are not well looked after.

Furthermore, the rising workload on the productive individuals in society steals away the time that they dedicated to look after other family members. Lebanese society is mutating from a family-centered into an individual-centered society. However, here is where the conflict rises. Take for example a typical Lebanese family: a healthy providing father supports a wife and three children. The eldest son, let's call him Samer, decided he wanted to become an engineer. His father gladly and responsibly pays Samer's school fees until he graduates, and even after he starts working, his father helps him buy an apartment and settle down. The father does the same for the rest of his children. Traditionally, the eldest son is the one to take responsibility for the family when the father can no longer support the family. Due to economic instability in the country, Samer can hardly support himself and his own wife. In addition, his father is not getting any younger or any more productive. Since Samer's father owned a private business, he will not be getting any pension or financial support from the government after he retires. Samer's mother dies leaving his father in the house alone while both of his siblings are, like him, barely keeping up with the low wages they are being paid. Lebanese values dictate that Samer should be looking after his father, while his financial state cripples him. Samer has one of two choices: either he lets his father move in with him, which will not make his wife very happy; or he would have to enter his father into a cheap elderly care center and split the cost with both his siblings. Most probably, Samer will opt for the second choice. Statistics show that there is a high demand for more care centers in Lebanon. This is reflected by the waiting lists that the available care centers have (each having at least a hundred candidates on their waiting list). By this, we will have discussed the legal and social state of the elderly in Lebanon, but how does this reflect on the elderly?

Psychologically speaking, old age in this case will be characterized by a general feeling of neglect leading to a minor depression that may help in augmenting the elderly's sickness (in case of any disease). The elderly in Lebanon, either in the care of their families or in special centers, are not given the necessary health care. This is due to two main factors: (1) the lack of public awareness about the importance of periodical check-ups and tests especially those tests which target diseases of the elderly, and (2) the unawareness of the medical experts of factors that specifically affect the health of the elderly. These factors are the following:

• Most common elderly diseases are chronic in nature, e.g., cardiovascular disease, arthritis, orthopedic impediments, mental disorders, loss of hearing and vision, and chronic infectious diseases.
• Outcome of disease in the elderly is usually serious. For example, bronchitis is often fatal in old people.
• Disease processes in the elderly are often multiple in nature, with the result that the final clinical picture is extremely confusing. Diagnosis by medical practitioners who are not experienced in geriatrics is quite often difficult.
• Some health problems are mistakenly not reported due to the common misconception that old age is a time of ill health and that many health problems should be regarded as a "way of life for the aged".
• Dose-related complications of drugs are common in elderly.
• Prolonged rehabilitation is almost a rule in health disorders of the elderly.

With the fast increase of the percentage of elderly in the world's population, that is estimated to become 25% by the year 2020, it is unacceptable to have such inadequate health care for the elderly. Therefore, geriatrics should be emphasized more in medical studies. Physicians and health care professionals should be trained and well prepared for the treatment of special health requirements of the elderly.