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Geriatric Oncology - Palliative / End
of Life Care
Demographic Overview
Those individuals 65 and over are the fastest growing segment
of the population
in Canada. In Ontario, by 2028, this age group will have increased
by 120%. By
2028 the elderly will represent 21.1% of Ontario’s population
compared to the
current 13.1%. (1)
Why is this Important?
Increasing age is directly correlated with increasing rates
of cancer and
corresponds to an eleven-fold greater incidence in persons
over the age of 65
versus those under the age of 65. ( 2) Eighty percent of all
cancers occur in
persons older than 60 years of age. Stereotypes of aging,
however, must be
avoided as the older population is not homogeneous and chronological
age is not
always an accurate predictor of psychological decline. As
nurses, we must avoid
ageist assumptions, assessing each older cancer patient’s
physiological,
intellectual, emotional, functional need and bring to that
assessment the person’s
physical and social environment. It is with this full assessment
best care
practices can emerge.
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