The relevance of Marjory Warren's writings today

Marjory Warren was one of the initial geriatricians in the United Kingdom. She established specialized geriatric units, held important administrative positions, and wrote influential papers where she argued for the need of the specialty of geriatric medicine and outlined principles for inpatient car...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Gerontologist 2014-02, Vol.54 (1), p.21-29
Main Authors: St John, Philip D, Hogan, David B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult Care Services
Aged, 80 and over
Chronic Illness
Chronic illnesses
Elderly
Geriatric Assessment
Geriatrics
Geriatrics - history
Health Professions
Health Services for the Aged - history
History, 19th Century
History, 20th Century
Hospitals
Humans
Medical personnel
Medicine
Older people
Periodicals as Topic
Physicians
United Kingdom
Warren
Writing
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Summary:Marjory Warren was one of the initial geriatricians in the United Kingdom. She established specialized geriatric units, held important administrative positions, and wrote influential papers where she argued for the need of the specialty of geriatric medicine and outlined principles for inpatient care of older adults with chronic illness. We compare and contrast Warren's early papers describing these principles with contemporary models for improving inpatient care of older adults and the need for the specialty of geriatrics. Warren's writings on the inpatient care of older adults presage the principles of both Hospital Elder Life Programs and Acute Care of the Elderly units. The importance of multidisciplinary teams, the physical environment, attention to diverse issues (medical, social, functional), early ambulation, and the active involvement of the older person in their daily routine are present in Warren's writings and in contemporary approaches. Warren's arguments for both the specialty of geriatric medicine and increased training of nonspecialist physicians and other health professionals are remarkably similar to those made in a recent Institute of Medicine report. Across time and place, there has been consistency in the general principles perceived as required for the effective cares of older persons, but challenges persist in implementing and sustaining them.
ISSN:0016-9013
1758-5341
DOI:10.1093/geront/gnt053