Merriman A
Ann Acad Med Singap. 1987 Jan;16(1):155-62.
In this review article, the demography of Singapore and future needs for medical care for the elderly are discussed. Tracing the history of the development of the specialty in UK, the following conclusions can be drawn: Home visits for assessment by specialists can avoid many unnecessary hospital admissions by using existing community services. Elderly people fare badly in acute sectors of hospitals. Elderly people respond to, and need, rehabilitation. The elderly are poor reporters of illness. There have been, and still are, misunderstandings between general physicians and physicians in geriatric medicine as to their roles and the future of the specialty. The role of geriatric medicine versus general medicine is defined. The possibilities for the future role of geriatric medicine in Singapore are discussed. The present use of medical services by the elderly and financial implications are reviewed. Suggestions are made for research into a comprehensive type of medical care for the elderly in Singapore.
在这篇综述文章中，讨论了新加坡的人口统计学以及老年人未来的医疗需求。追溯英国该专业的发展历史，可以得出以下结论：专科医生进行家访评估可以通过利用现有的社区服务避免许多不必要的住院治疗。老年人在医院的急症科室情况不佳。老年人对康复有反应且需要康复。老年人对疾病的自述能力较差。普通内科医生和老年医学医生在各自的角色以及该专业的未来方面一直存在误解，现在仍然存在。明确了老年医学与普通医学的作用。讨论了老年医学在新加坡未来可能发挥的作用。回顾了老年人目前对医疗服务的使用情况及其财务影响。针对新加坡老年人综合医疗护理的研究提出了建议。
