37342 - Medical Clinic of Aging (AK)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module, the student:

• knows the demographic characteristics of the Italian population and the main international recommendations in the geriatric field, including their ethical and care-related implications.

• knows the methodological foundations of clinical reasoning for diagnosing major geriatric syndromes, slowly progressive systemic diseases, and comorbidities.

• is able to apply differential diagnosis and prognostic principles to the most severe and prevalent diseases and syndromes affecting older adults in Italy.

• is able to assess the health status of an older person, considering them as an individual, as a patient, and as someone living within specific contexts (home, hospital, nursing home, long‑term care facility).

• is able to integrate management strategies for older patients by using all available community and hospital resources, both human and technological.

• is able to communicate effectively with the older patient, their relatives, and healthcare professionals, particularly regarding issues of death, suffering, and decline.

• knows indications and contraindications of the main diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including invasive ones, in adults, older adults, and the oldest‑old.

• is able to design therapeutic plans—including prevention‑ and rehabilitation‑oriented interventions—for the most common geriatric syndromes, in accordance with international guidelines.

• is able to use, from a theoretical standpoint, the main tools of e‑care, telemedicine, e‑health, electronic medical records, and other digital resources applicable to geriatric medicine.

Course contents

1. Aging processes at the cellular and tissue level; the aging of organs and apparatuses. Demography of aging and society. Frailty.

2. Changes in body composition in aging. Malnutrition and swallowing disorders. Obesity and sarcopenia.

3. Geriatric comprehensive assessment. Most common tools for evaluating the elderly patient (MMSE, GDS, ADL, IADL, Tinetti).

4. Outpatient services for older people. Functional consequences of aging. Relations between functions, health and disability: their social impact; more frequent causes of disability and their classification. Rehabilitation.

5. Polypharmacy and iatrogenesis.

6. Osteoporosis and fractures.

7. Cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases in the elderly.

8. Cognitive disorders of older people

9. Depression and delirium.

10. Disequilibrium and falls.

11. Bedrest, incontinence, dehydration.

12. Diabetes, infections in the elderly, geriatric palliative medicine, abuse.

Readings/Bibliography

One of these three books in italian:

Bosello Ottavio; Zamboni Mauro - Manuale di Gerontologia e Geriatria - Ed. Piccin, Nuova Libraria

Senin Umberto; Cherubini Antonio; Mecocci Patrizia - Paziente Anziano Paziente Geriatrico Medicina della Compessità Fondamenti di Gerontologia e Geriatria - Ed. EdiSES

Raffaele Antonelli Incalzi; Matteo Cesari; Dario Leosco; Claudio Pedone; Andrea Ungar; Stefano Volpato - Manuale di geriatria

Teaching methods

Public frontal lessons with Powerpoint presentations that will be made available to students at the end of class.

Assessment methods

In a single examination session together with the other instructors of the Integrated Course.

A single final grade for the Integrated Course will be recorded, calculated as the average of the grades obtained in the individual modules/parts of the course. Failed attempts are also recorded.

GRADING SCALE

18–19 — very limited preparation on a small number of course topics; analytical skills demonstrated only with the instructor’s guidance; overall correct language.

20–24 — limited preparation on a restricted number of course topics; autonomous analytical skills only on purely procedural issues; correct language.

25–29 — solid preparation on a broad range of course topics; autonomous critical analysis; mastery of specific terminology.

30–30L — comprehensive preparation on all course topics; autonomous critical choices and ability to make connections; full command of specific terminology; strong argumentative and self‑reflective skills.

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or with temporary or permanent disabilities

Students are strongly advised to contact the University office responsible well in advance (Ufficio Studenti con Disabilità e DSA [https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it] ). The office will evaluate each case and may propose appropriate accommodations for the students concerned. Any proposed adaptation must be submitted to the course instructor for approval at least 15 days in advance; the instructor will assess its suitability in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

Regarding the assessment of learning, the use of AI tools is strictly prohibited. Any use of such tools constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

Oral lectures with slides.

Language of teaching: italian.

Office hours

See the website of Paola Forti