[Chronicity and rehabilitation in general medicine and geriatry.]

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity, cancer is increasing and comorbidity is more frequent in older age. The elderly patients with chronic degenerative diseases experience more acute complications and hospitalizations and poorer quality of life compared to elderly patients without chronic diseases. Furthermore it is widely acknowledged that an acute care model is inappropriate for patients with chronic conditions.

METHODS: The objective of this chapter is to review some of the more common conditions associated with disability in elderly subjects that lead to frequent hospitalization for acute complications and propose a different model of care for these complex patients.