Geriatrics

The Department of Geriatrics has 40 inpatient beds and 10 beds for outpatients and offers highly specialised medical care for older patients. Specially trained physicians work together with nursing staff, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, pastoral counsellors and social workers to care for these patients who – unlike younger individuals – mostly suffer from multiple conditions and functional disorders. The Geriatric Team therefore carry out a special diagnostic process (geriatric assessment) to assess the functional status of patients. This tests a range of aspects, including self-help capacity, memory and orientation, risk of falling, mood, social situation and nutrition. Therapy objectives are then formulated on the basis of the results.
Suitable preparations are made before the patient is discharged with the use of relevant aids and outpatient support. The aim of the Department of Geriatrics is to build up a close network together with general practitioners, outpatient nursing services, non-hospital-based therapists, counselling, care services and self-help groups.