Posted on 09/30/2017 7:51:11 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Approximately one in five Americans are over the age of 65, and that number is quickly growing. As baby boomers reach retirement, many decide to make the move from a primary care physician to a geriatrician – primary care doctors who have special training in offering health care to seniors.
The health care needs of people change as they age, and many begin to experience new medical conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, renal failure, or heart disease. Some inevitable signs of aging take place over time, such as a slower metabolism, and lead to a decline in physical activity. Some medical conditions appear suddenly, such as a stroke or heart attack, and require immediate intervention. These factors are some of the reasons people may seek the advice of a geriatric physician.
Geriatric physicians are especially attuned to the unique health needs of seniors. For example, as motor skills decline, seniors carry an increased risk of injury due to falls. To reduce those risks, a geriatrician may refer a patient to physical or occupational therapy. Geriatricians are trained to recognize the signs that a person may need assistance with one or more aspects of daily living – such as bathing, cooking, or medication management. They can then make recommendations for home care services, allowing their patients to live independently with a goal of ensuring that each patient experience the maximum quality of life possible.
Another area of a geriatrician’s expertise involves medication management. Elderly people respond differently to medication than younger patients, and the doctor can offer insight into drug interactions and side effects unique to seniors.
The aging process also affects the mental state, and geriatric physicians are familiar with various cognitive conditions such memory loss, dementia, and depression, that come with age. Because of this, geriatricians can be great resources to families who may need referrals to social workers or other outside agencies for their elderly loved ones.
If you think you might benefit from visiting a geriatrician, check with your insurance to inquire about doctors in your area, or contact your primary care doctor to request a referral.
My doc has been a gerontologist for awhile now...it’s because I like his practise and his staff
Switch to a Geriatrician and you’ll find healthcare workers camped on your doorstep to make sure they become a part of every aspect of your life.
A lady in Phoenix recently turned 100 and when asked what her secret to longevity was, she replied, “Stay away from doctors.”
No. If someone who calls themselves a geriatrician happens to be a good physician and informed internist, then by all means employ them. Otherwise, ignore this designation and choose a the most informed and thoughtful internist you can find.
As our population continues to age, and fewer are having more than the ‘replacement’ number of children, that’s where the REAL money is going to be!
We have several Nieces and Nephews getting medical degrees as PAs and LPNs right now; they’ll never want for work.
Of course, WE get first dibs. :)
Amen.
Any doctor who can reduce the polypharmacy (too many medicines) that plagues many older people would be doing a good deed, but in general they have no time or incentive to do so. And despite electronic medical records, not all drug interactions are recognized when they may be significantly contributing to a lower quality of life.
So are geriatricians actually better at this than your FP or internist? From what I see, not unless a family member is specific in requesting it.
“Approximately ONE in five Americans ARE over the age of 65, and that number is quickly growing.”
Approximately ten out of ten journalists are illiterate.
My doc is in her 40’s and very good looking. I’m 65 and very happy with her.
I wouldn’t be surprised if geriatric physicians are targeted during their training with propaganda about steering pts toward end of life rather than preserving life.
Yep.
It sounds plausible, but I think the best thing is to find a good internist who is knowledgeable and takes you seriously at any age.
Naw...
Doc and I are the same age....so, not till he retires....
Just how many “Turn your head and cough” exams are you getting?
Funny, I thought the same exact thing when I saw this story.
“Any doctor who can reduce the polypharmacy (too many medicines) that plagues many older people would be doing a good deed”
in my opinion, the number one goal of any geriatrician should be to analyze and then reduce the number of medications to the fewest possible. Second, analyze the medications’ CYP450 and other interactions, and prescribe different versions if either or both can be eliminated. Third, eliminate deadly drugs like amiodarone. Fourth, eliminate deadly combinations like the kidney-destroying “triple whammy” of NSAIDs, ACE/ARBs, and diuretics. Fifth, if at all possible eliminate quality-of-life-destroying drugs such as beta blockers. etc.
That would do a lot of good. And pain Big Pharma greatly.
Not that your statement requires any reinforcement, I would like to offer a brief story. Saw my internist starting when he was quite young and I was only 13. As the years went by he would laugh when I would go in and insinuate that everything I was saying was made up because I was "too young" to have this or that. When he retired 35+ years later I as a 50yo had to go see another physician who after a brief checkup asked,"My God! Why havent you ever sought treatment for (this), (this), and (this)?"
She finally made me quit asking for the annual physical 6 times per year.
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