BANGALORE: There is a need for specialists to identify and treat diseases in the elderly, said RGUHS Vice-Chancellor K S Ravindranath at GERICON 2014, a two-day geriatric conference, in the city on Friday.
“We need to start a post-graduate course in geriatrics that will teach students how to treat musculoskeletal disorders (pain in joints, ligaments, muscles), vision and hearing problems, and nervous disorders,” he said.
GERICON 2014 is being organised by PES University and PES Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and highlights the latest advances in the field of geriatrics and ways to improve care of the elderly.
Presently, senior citizens (60 years and above) account for nine per cent of the Indian population and the number is expected to rise to over 11 per cent by 2021.
The conference brings together leading national and international practitioners of geriatrics and government and social welfare representatives. With a theme of ‘Simplifying Geriatric Care - Real Problems, Practical Solutions’, the conference aims to bridge the gap between academics and clinical practice.