What is a geriatric medicine appointment?
A geriatric medicine appointment is a visit with a geriatrician to assess your physical and mental health. These appointments are typically longer than a routine visit with your primary health provider.
Rather than treat a specific condition, they focus on improving your overall quality of life by using a multidisciplinary approach to treat numerous health issues simultaneously.
What does a geriatric assessment involve?
A geriatric assessment is an integrative approach to evaluating a senior’s wellbeing. This includes their functional ability (how you manage everyday activities), physical health, mental health, and socio-environmental situation (support structures and home life).
During a geriatric assessment, your doctor may perform vision, hearing, and balance tests, and check your blood pressure and heart rate. They may ask about your daily diet, bowel movements, and daily activities.
They may also perform cognitive tests to screen for dementia, such as the Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE).
When should you start seeing a geriatric doctor?
While there is no set age when you should start seeing a geriatric doctor as your primary care provider, most people begin to visit a geriatrician after they turn 65. You should also consider visiting a geriatric doctor if:
- Your caregivers can no longer provide adequate support
- You become impaired or frail
- You have several health conditions that require complex medication routines and care procedures
What are geriatric issues?
Geriatric issues cover a broad range of physical and mental health conditions, including:
- Fall injuries. Falls are often due to medication, sensory deficits, or cognitive impairment.
- Cardiovascular disease. Older adults are more prone to developing cardiovascular issues such as stroke, hypertension, and peripheral artery disease.
- Dementia. Cognitive decline is one of the most prominent signs of aging. Dementia-related diseases include Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and Lewy body dementia.
- Incontinence. Urinary and bowel incontinence occurs due to weakened pelvic floor muscles, nerve damage, overactive bladder, or prolapse.
- Depression. Seniors may feel lonely or isolated, leading to depression.
- Arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis experienced by seniors. It causes swelling, stiffness, and pain in the joints, limiting range of motion.
- Osteoporosis. Bone density declines as you age, causing bones to become brittle and weak. This increases the risk of fractures and other injuries.
What questions should I ask my geriatric doctor?
Geriatricians often recommend that seniors write down important questions to ask during their appointment. These include:
- Will you replace my primary care physician?
- Which health condition takes priority?
- Am I on the correct medications?
- Do I need to change my diet?
- Do I need to install any mobility or safety devices at home?
- How often should I get diagnostic tests like blood tests, imaging, or screening?
Seniors may also have a caregiver present to ask other important questions, help fill out insurance information, and pay medical bills.
What is the difference between a geriatrician and a gerontologist?
The primary difference between a geriatrician and a gerontologist is the level of care they provide.
Geriatricians are primary care doctors for the elderly. They are qualified physicians (M.D. or D.O.) who complete a minimum of a 3-year residency and must be board certified in internal medicine or family medicine. They diagnose conditions, perform tests, and create treatment plans, including prescribing medications.
Gerontology is the study of aging. Gerontologists work in a supporting capacity, either researching conditions that affect the elderly or working government-level jobs to promote policies to improve the quality of life for seniors.
They may also work as caregivers, helping patients and their families navigate the complexities of elder healthcare, like coordinating diet and exercise programs and mental health visits.
