ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with circumstances less likely to be encountered in general adulthood, and more often encountered with aging patients. In general, the ability of older adults to safely cope with acute illness is diminished. For example, the physical reserve of strength can be rapidly depleted by a cold or flu. Something that might cause a 40-year-old to merely miss a day of work may trigger a prolonged hospitalization in an 80-year-old. Malingering, in the geriatric population can sometimes be seen as one of two requests: "come here" or "go away." "Come here" forms of malingering can be thought of as asking for assistance. The loss of control is a great fear for many older adults. Declining health, limited physical ability, a fixed income, and a shrinking social circle all present new limitations. As we age, these limitations gradually reduce our independence.
