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Should You Choose a Geriatrician for Primary Care?

Did you know seniors are the fastest-growing segment of America’s population? According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, people 65 and older made up 13 percent of the nation’s total population, a number they expect to increase to 16 percent by 2020. As they age, they’ll naturally use more healthcare resources, making more visits to their primary care doctors, spending more days in the hospital, and requiring greater access to numerous medical services.

If you’re among them, you understand firsthand the special medical needs that come with getting older. So do geriatricians. Unlike internal or family medicine physicians, geriatricians specialize in conditions that affect senior citizens. They are also experts in healthy aging and preventive care for the older generation. If you’re concerned with any of the issues below, it may be time to add a geriatrician to your healthcare team.

Frailty – It’s an almost inevitable part of aging, but frailty—characterized by symptoms that include unintentional weight loss, muscle loss and weakness—can affect your ability to function independently. A geriatrician can help you prevent or address frailty and put a care plan in place if necessary.

Multiple chronic medical problems – One is bad enough, but many seniors suffer from multiple chronic medical conditions including arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, memory loss and dementia. Geriatricians understand how these conditions interact and how to manage them concurrently.

Multiple medications – If you have more than one medical condition, you’re probably managing it with more than one medication. Not only does geriatrician medical training include understanding how medications work in the senior body, it also makes these doctors uniquely qualified to address side effects and drug interactions in elderly individuals.

Mental decline – Aging naturally comes with some degree of memory loss and cognitive decline. However, some seniors suffer from less common conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, that require appropriate treatment. Geriatricians can distinguish the normal signs of aging from more serious illness.

Caregiving insight – Many seniors eventually need help with day-to-day tasks such as bathing, toileting, dressing and eating. They may rely on family to care for them or hire outside assistance. A geriatrician can help you—and your family—to decide when it’s the right time to enlist the help of a home health aide or move to a skilled nursing facility.

If you’re ready to work with a geriatrician, ask your current primary care doctor for a referral. You can also conduct a search on the American Geriatric Society webpage. According to the AGS, there are only around 9,000 certified geriatricians in the U.S. so it may take some time to find one in your area who is accepting new patients.

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