Very old persons often have chronic problems, such as physical immobility, unsteady gait, and mental impairments. In such patients, these risks have to be considered and their treatments adapted accordingly.
Deutsches Ärzteblatt International in its current issue introduces two original articles on the subject of geriatric medicine. The study reported by Wolfgang von Renteln-Kruse et al. (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2015; 112: 103) investigated the clinical treatment of geriatric patients with cognitive impairment, who require an appropriate environment and appropriate care. Stefan Grund et al. (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2015; 112: 113) in their study analyzed the concept of a center for geriatric traumatology, to provide care for elderly people who have had accidents resulting in leg fractures, which required inpatient treatment.