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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2008

For more information:
Joe Douglas
(212) 308-1414
jdouglas@americangeriatrics.org

AGS Foundation for Health in Aging Releases Comprehensive
"Geriatrics Syndromes" Tip Sheet for Older Americans

Common in Later Life, Geriatric Syndromes Adversely Affect
Older Adults' Health and Quality of Life

Americans are living longer and healthier lives. Even so, many older adults will eventually develop one or more of a group of related medical problems known as "geriatric syndromes." To help seniors and their caregivers understand these syndromes, and how they affect older adults' health and quality of life, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Foundation for Health in Aging (FHA) has released a comprehensive and easy-to-understand tip sheet, "The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging Guide to "Geriatric Syndromes."

The two-part tip sheet describes 14 commonly diagnosed geriatric syndromes -- including vision and hearing problems, osteoporosis, difficulty swallowing, bladder problems, pressure ulcers dizziness, and falls -- and offers advice on addressing them with healthcare providers. Unlike standard medical problems, geriatric syndromes typically have more than one cause, involve several different body systems, and one syndrome can often contribute to another. For these reasons, providing medical care for older people with geriatric syndromes can be complicated. Geriatricians -- doctors who have advanced training in the care of older adults -- and other geriatrics healthcare providers can play an important role in diagnosing and managing these syndromes.

"Although geriatric syndromes are very common among older people, most older adults and their caregivers aren't familiar with this concept," says Sharon A. Brangman, MD, professor of medicine, chief of the division of geriatrics, at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse and a Board Member of the AGS Foundation for Health in Aging. "This is unfortunate because there are strategies for preventing syndromes such as osteoporosis and pressure ulcers, and effective treatments for vision and hearing problems and urinary incontinence, among others."

The FHA's series of health tip sheets for older people is posted on the Foundation's comprehensive public education Web site. The tip sheets and all other information on the site can be printed and distributed at no cost.

ABOUT THE FHA

In 1999, the American Geriatrics Society reached beyond its traditional role as a professional medical society and launched the AGS Foundation for Health in Aging (FHA). The FHA aims to build a bridge between geriatrics health care professionals and the public, and advocate on behalf of older adults and their special needs: wellness and preventive care, self-responsibility and independence, and connections to family and community. The FHA champions initiatives in public education, clinical research, and public policy that advance the principles and practice of geriatrics medicine; educate policy makers and the public on the health care needs and concerns of older adults; support aging research that reduces disability and frailty, and improves quality of life and health outcomes; encourage older adults to be effective advocates for their own health care; and help family members and caregivers take better care of their older loved ones and themselves.

ABOUT THE AGS

Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (www.americangeriatrics.org) is a nationwide, not-for-profit association of geriatrics health care professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence, and quality of life of all older people. The Society supports this mission through activities in clinical practice, professional and public education, research, and public policy. With an active membership of over 6,700 health care professionals, the Society has become a pivotal force in shaping attitudes, policies, and practices in geriatric medicine.