We had learnt a lot about pediatrics from the past few weeks, now let us compare pediatrics and geriatrics care. But before that, allow me to introduce what geriatric is through the video below :
Now that we know what geriatric is, we can list down some of the differences between pediatrics and geriatrics care.
DECISION MAKING
Pediatric patients
Parents will be involved and discuss with the patient to decide the treatment to be taken. The stereotype of making decisions for pediatric patients only involving parents should be diminished as the children also have the right to their future. The patients that can be in the discussion is patient who can understand the situation that they are in should be included in the discussion of decision making ( ex: a 6-year-old patient).
Geriatric patients
The children of the patient will be involved in decision making. Yet, the patients will be dominant to make the decision while the children are the ones who give support and suggestions.
COMMUNICATION
Pediatric patients
Healthcare personnel need to communicate at their eye level so that we caught their attention to listen.
Geriatric patients
As a person starts to age, the hearing ability will begin to decline. Thus, it is proper for the healthcare personnel to face the patient so that the voice can be heard clearly.
SUPPORT (NO OF HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL REQUIRED)
Pediatric patients
Usually, pediatric patients have smaller built as they are still in the process of growth, so only a few healthcare personnel are needed.
Geriatric patients
Geriatric patients fall in the ‘elderly’ stage of the human life cycle where they are not as strong as before. Thus, they will need support from others to move. Quite a number of healthcare personnel needed to support them to move because of bigger built and heavier body mass compared to pediatric patients.
Reference :
https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/bioethics-from-pediatrics-to-geriatrics/
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