Important Points in Taking Care of Elderly Patients with Chronic Diseases

In the last century, the ratio of elderly population has risen together with the increment in life expectancy and an associated increase is observed in chronic diseases. Deterioration of health status due to chronic diseases and the associated decrease in functional ability increases the individual's dependency to others. In this respect, the elderly are in more need of health care as well as social and economic care. The necessity of institutions for elderly care is gradually increasing across the globe. The required attention should be paid to this issue and necessary steps should be taken in order to ensure healthy, peaceful and content societies in the future. Turk J Phys Med Rehab 2009; 55 Suppl 2: 88-9.