Making the switch from a primary care physician to a physician trained in the needs of older adults can improve your health and quality of life. Seniors Guide writer Terri L. Jones examines why you should see a geriatrician.
Maybe your doctor totally misdiagnosed your combination of symptoms. Perhaps you experienced an adverse reaction to a new medication. Or perhaps the doctor simply dismissed your symptoms as “just part of aging” and offered no further tests or support.
As you get older, your medical care becomes more complex: multiple conditions and medications interact, age-related conditions mask deeper issues, and physical health influences emotional and intellectual health and safety. That’s why you need a medical provider who understands seniors’ differing needs and manages your health as a whole, rather than each of your conditions individually. Unfortunately, most primary care physicians don’t have the time to provide the coordination of care that older adults need. Given that they care for patients from their 20s on up, they also don’t have time to learn about the differing needs of seniors.
How a geriatrician can help
A geriatrician, who is an internal or family medicine doctor with specialized training in health issues common to older patients (particularly those over 65), can care for you holistically. A geriatrician can better coordinate your overall care with specialists and other physicians, being involved with everything that impacts your function as well as your quality of life.
“Geriatricians specialize in the care of people with multiple chronic medical conditions that cause challenges with their day-to-day physical and mental functioning,” said Michael Steinman, a geriatrician at the University of California San Francisco.
However, there are other reasons to see a geriatrician and trust them with your care:
If you take multiple medications
The more medications you take, the greater your risk of drug interactions and side effects. Your age, which impacts how your body metabolizes drugs, also increases the possibility of adverse reactions. A geriatrician will keep a close eye on your medications, adjusting them or even recommending you stop a medication when necessary.
“Often, the geriatrician will not treat every active medical condition with a medication,” explains Johns Hopkins geriatrician Michele Bellantoni, M.D. “We prioritize the conditions and medications to maximize the patient’s physical functioning and well-being.”
If you need surgeries
Interventions such as surgeries can pose greater risks now than when you were younger. These procedures may also impact other conditions you have. A geriatrician will make sure you understand the benefits as well as the potential risks before you go ahead with these procedures. But the geriatrician’s benefit doesn’t stop there. While in the hospital, patients who receive care from a geriatrician have been shown to have better function and stand a better chance of going home when discharged rather than to a nursing home, according to a study published by NIH.
If you’re having problems with memory
Four out of five older adults who are likely to have dementia will not receive a diagnosis due to lack of dementia training among some PCPs as well as simple hesitation to make this diagnosis. If a geriatrician observes signs of this disease, they will screen you for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which can lead to dementia.
If you’re having trouble getting around
A geriatrician will assess your balance and gait as well as give you balance-strengthening exercises to do at home and/or order physical therapy. As an added benefit, they may also have a physical or occupational therapist conduct a fall-risk assessment in your home.
Quality of life
A geriatrician’s care doesn’t stop at their office door. Some geriatric teams will visit your home to evaluate how well you’re able to negotiate steps, hardwood floors, showers, etc., making recommendations about aging-in-place modifications to ensure your safety. They can also give you advice on other factors impacting your quality of life, such as your nutrition, driving, and ability to live independently.
A geriatrician also recognizes the important role that caregivers play in maintaining your health. Understanding caregivers’ burden, these physicians provide guidance on home care services and referrals for physical or occupational therapy. They may also schedule longer appointments to allow you the time to discuss all your concerns and encourage caregivers to attend your appointment for support.
How to find a geriatrician
Geriatricians work in private practice but also out of hospitals as part of centers for geriatric medicine or at long-term care or rehabilitation facilities. Find a geriatrician practicing in your local area through American Geriatrics Society’s online locator service.
FYI: You may have heard the term “gerontologist” and wonder if there’s a difference between that professional and a geriatrician. While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, gerontology more accurately is a broad field that includes not only geriatricians but also biologists, social scientists, and social workers who study aging and work to enhance the well-being of older adults.
