This product is part of a series of digitized lectures devoted to topics in clinical geriatrics designed to teach important principles in the management of older persons. By using this lecture series, learners will be able to improve their overall knowledge about managing common geriatric syndromes; understand the unique health care needs of older patients, differences in the management of common clinical conditions, and how physiologic changes associated with aging impact management; develop a working knowledge of important legal and ethical issues associated with end-of-life care; and understand and apply principles of the multi-disciplinary geriatric assessment.

The learning objectives of this particular digitized presentation are:

1. Define complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and list CAM therapies commonly used by elderly patients
2. Discuss the prevalence of CAM use among elderly patients, the reasons for this use, and correlations between demographic factors and the use of CAM
3. Explain why it is important to investigate the use of complementary and alternative medicine, and describe how to talk to patients about CAM use
4. Explain how to formulate advice on specific CAM therapies and list reputable sources of information