Abstract

How can we provide the best care for the growing population of older adults, many of whom are either very frail or very sick? The traditional medical model of care is focused on treatment of single diseases. This can work well for pneumonia, cancer, or diabetes in younger patients. It does not, however, work as well for frail older adults who have accumulated multiple chronic conditions and disabilities. These elders often depend on family or paid caregivers to provide assistance with taking medications, transportation, and other activities of daily living, such as dressing and bathing. A practitioner in the traditional medical model might prescribe medications that make sense in isolation but have harmful...