Senility: Medical History

Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of senility (frailty of old age).

Family history

  • What is the general health of your relatives?
  • Are there any diseases in your family that are common? (Tumor diseases, metabolic and vascular diseases, and psychiatric diseases, etc.).
  • Are there any hereditary diseases in your family?

Social history

  • Were you exposed to harmful agents in your job?
  • Is there any evidence of psychosocial stress or strain due to your family situation?

Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).

  • What is their physical condition? Same?, Better?, Worse?
  • What is their mental state? Same?, Better?, Worse?
  • What changes have you noticed?
    • Forgetfulness or memory problems?
    • Depressive moods?
    • Decreased performance?
    • Decreasing muscle strength?
    • Back and joint pain?
    • Decreased desire for sexual intercourse (libido disorders)?
    • Decrease in sexual performance?
    • Drying of the skin with wrinkling?
  • Do you trip easily? If so, have you ever injured yourself in the process?
  • Do you have to get up at night to urinate? If yes, how often?
  • Do you suffer from shortness of breath?
  • Do you have a cough?
  • Have you noticed any changes in your sensory organs? (Hearing, sight, smell, taste, etc.).
  • Do you have a swallowing disorder?

Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.

  • Has your body weight changed recently? How fast has your body weight changed? Please tell us your body weight (in kg) and height (in cm).
  • Do you suffer from loss of appetite?
  • Do you drink enough? How much have you drunk today?
  • Are there any changes in digestion and/or urination?
  • Do you get enough exercise every day?
  • Do you suffer from insomnia?
    • Difficulty falling asleep?
    • Trouble sleeping through the night?
    • Shortened sleep duration?
  • Do you smoke? If so, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
  • Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses of it per day?

Self history incl. medication history.