Palliative Care of the Geriatric Patient

More than 50% of all deaths occur in medical and surgical units where the focus is on active, curative treatment, not on managing symptoms and establishing realistic goals of care. Many of these patients are older adults and are vulnerable to many condition. Often they develop end-stage renal disease dementia, hip fractures, and pulmonary conditions and their associated sequelae. Seriously ill, hospitalized patients represent a specialized patient population that greatly benefits from the expanded skills and knowledge of palliative advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). This chapter reviews renal failure, dementia, pulmonary conditions, and hip fractures and their management for the geriatric patient.