[The older patient in intensive care].

Demographic trends mean that the proportion of older and very old patients in hospitals at all levels of care is increasing. This means that significantly more patients from these age groups can be expected in the future. These developments pose new challenges for both medical care and the management of geriatric intensive care patients, taking into account their multimorbidity and functional limitations due to acute illness.

[Clinical acute and emergency medicine curriculum-focus on internal medicine : Recommendations for advanced training in internal medicine in the emergency department].

In Germany, physicians qualify for emergency medicine by combining a specialty medical training-e.g. internal medicine-with advanced training in emergency medicine according to the statutes of the State Chambers of Physicians largely based upon the Guideline Regulations on Specialty Training of the German Medical Association.

[Vaccination in old age: an overview].

Vaccinations against infectious diseases are a highly effective preventive measure, especially in old age due to the higher susceptibility to infections. As the effectiveness of vaccinations decreases in old age due to immune senescence but also due to comorbidities, specific, more immunogenic vaccines have been developed for this target group. In Germany, the Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO) publishes annually updated vaccination recommendations also specifically for the 60+ years age group.

[Advanced care planing and end of life decisions - the geriatricians' view].

Medical progress and the increasing desire for self-determination, even in the most difficult life situations, as well as the associated increasing possibilities of influencing life and dying lead to possibilities but also obligations for individual treatment design. Especially at the end of life, the desire for provision is great and many decisions need to be made in advance or by proxy. In daily dealings with sick or seriously ill people at the end of their lives, it is very helpful if appropriate advance directives have been made and the patient's wishes can be implemented simply and clearly.