Geriatrics and health of the elderly

The Health Survey of Catalonia shows that the percentage of elderly people who state that they suffer from some kind of chronic health problem is stable at around 70 per cent, with a slightly higher prevalence in women. According to the ESPI (Health Survey of Institutionalised Population) in residencies 98 per cent show signs of chronic health conditions and 55 per cent have 7 or more conditions. It is also common for them to be suffering the so-called geriatric syndromes: falls, malnutrition and cognitive impairment , among others. As a consequence of these health problems and secondary functional impairment, the elderly often require continual care, healthcare and social resources.