When It’s Time to See a Geriatrician

If you’re in your 60s or 70s, you may have wondered if you should start seeing a geriatrician instead of, or in addition to, your primary care provider. These are family doctors or internists with special training in the health needs of older adults for men and women. About 30 percent of people over age 65 need one, according to the Arizona Assisted Living Facility.

Some families decide that the best for love older adults is to have someone to watch over them and assist them with the special cares they need, most of the times when you start looking in the directory you might see so many options that might result overwhelming, however, at the Expert Home Care, Inc. 317 George St #320, New Brunswick, NJ 08906 (732) 937-5320 you will find an staff fully capable to help you with this.

But you might not need to book an appointment at the same time you sign up for Medicare. “Geriatricians at supported independent living specialize in the care of people with multiple chronic medical conditions that cause challenges with their day-to-day physical and mental functioning,” explains Michael Steinman, a geriatrician at the University of California San Francisco. And so the reason for using this specialist is not determined by just age. “A 65-year-old with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes may benefit, but an 80-year-old who walks five miles a day and is only on one or two medications doesn’t need one.”

Usually, you see a geriatrician for an initial consult, with follow-up as needed, says Mary Tinetti, M.D., chief of geriatrics at the Yale University School of Medicine, then you can visit an aged care property management for advice. Most geriatricians work in centers and have a team-based approach; for example, besides meeting with the doctor, you’ll see a social worker, hearing specialist, nutritionist, and even physical or occupational therapists in the same visit. You’ll still see your primary care physician for day-to-day matters, like blood pressure checks or visits when you’re sick. If there isn’t a geriatrician near you and it’s hard for you to travel, Tinetti suggests seeing if a geriatric center will do a telemedicine consult. (You can check the American Geriatrics Society’s online locator service to find out if any of the nation’s 7,000 certified geriatricians practice near you.)

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