Geriatric Medicine

- section of UEMS



Delegates:

Melanie Debono
melanie.e.debono@gov.mt

John Cordina
john.j.cordina@gov.mt

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Geriatrics in Malta

Do geriatric co-management programs exist in non-geriatric units:
There is an established orthogeriatric service
Total population >65 Years old (in absolute numbers): :
103,406
Population aged 65+ (or 60+) (in %):: :
18.35%
Population aged 75+ (in %)::
47,092
Population aged 80+ (in %):  :
8.36
Gender distribution in the older population (60+) :
Male: Female ratio is 0.90
Most frequent Diagnosis-related groupsin older adults:
Mortality and morbidity information:
National geriatrics society/association name:
Geriatric Medicine Society of Malta. Maltese Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics
Contact details (email, phone number) :
22081822
Website - URL :
https://gmsmalta.com/
Total number of certified geriatricians in the country :
45
Is Geriatrics a recognized specialty? (Yes/No) :
Yes
Duration of postgraduate training in geriatric medicine (years): :
2 years in general medicine and then 4 years in geriatric medicin
Criteria to be admitted in geriatric medicine residency training:
Completion of training certificate in General Medicine
Any ongoing programs to train more geriatricians? (Yes/No):
Yes
Criteria for a patient be treated by a geriatrician :
Age 65+ and referral from other departments
Number of hospitals with dedicated geriatric units:
2
Kind of units present in hospitals involved in geriatric care:
Rehabilitation hospital and long-stay hospital
Do geriatric co-management programs exist in non-geriatric units:
There is an established orthogeriatric service
Major challenges :
Doctor and nurse shortage. Lack of facilities. Poor community support
Initiatives or solutions being implemented to address these :
The government is always trying to recruit new staff. There are plans to open acute geriatric wards and to offer more geriatric services in the community.
Are there regional disparities in geriatric care?:
No
Which regions have the best/worst access to geriatric services? :
Private homes
Number of long-term care facilities:
1 large long-term care hospital and about 25 nursing homes
Are there co-management programs in these:
No
Name of Universities Offering Geriatric Medicine:
University of Malta. Queen Mary University of London Malta
Geriatric medicine is part of undergraduate training?:
Yes in both universities
Is there a postgraduate curriculum specific to geriatrics?:
Yes
How many candidates are enrolled into geriatric:
From 2 - 6
Name of UEMS board membersandcontacts per country:
Dr John Cordina john.j.cordina@gov.mt Dr Melanie Debono melanie.a.debono@gov.mt
Additional comments or important information
Apologies for leaving two questions unanswered but I am not sure if I understood the questions correctly
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Il-Ġerjatrija

Il-Ġerjatrija hija speċjalizzjazzjoni fil-mediċina li tikkonċerna partikolarment kundizzjonijiet fiżiċi, mentali, funzjonali u soċjali fil-kura akuta, kronika, rijabilitattiva, preventiva kif ukoll dik lejn tmiem il-ħajja f’pazjenti anzjani.

Dan il-grupp ta’ pazjenti għandu livell ogħla ta’ fraĠilità u diversi mardiet attivi, u għalhekk għandu bżonn prattika olistika. Il-mard fl-anzjani jista’ jimmanifesta ruħu b’mod differenti, kultant huwa aktar diffiċli biex issir dijanjosi, idum ħafna biex jirrispondi għal-kura u spiss jirrikjedi għajnuna soċjali.

Għalhekk il-Ġerjatrija tmur ‘l hinn mill-mediċina li tispeċjalizza fuq organi speċifiċi peress li toffri terapija f’ambjent multidixxiplinarju, li l-iskop prinċipali tagħha huwa li tikseb l-aħjar stat funzjonali tal-persuna anzjana u ttejjeb il-kwalità tal-ħajja u l-awtonomija.

Il-Ġerjatrija mhijiex definita specifikament bl-età, però tittratta mard tipiku li huwa aktar komuni fl-anzjani. Il-maĠĠoranza tal-pazjenti jkunu qabżu l-65 sena iżda l-problemi li l-aktar ikunu trattatti mill-ispeċjalizzjazzjoni tal-Ġerjatrija huma aktar komuni f’dawk li jaqbżu it-80 sena.