Geriatric Care Specialist

What is geriatric care?

Geriatric care involves medical care of geriatric, or older adult, patients. With aging comes an increased risk of potential health problems, such as:

• Osteoporosis or arthritis
• Heart disease
• Bladder control problems
• Falls
• Unintentional weight loss
• Dementia
• Sleeping difficulties
• Gum or teeth problems
• Constipation
• Vision and hearing impairments

Routine medical exams screen for these and other health problems before more serious complications arise. If you have or are at risk of developing a geriatric-related medical condition, the experienced physicians at CFP Physicians Group are there for you.

What should I expect during a wellness visit?

Prior to your appointment, gather a list of medications you’re taking. During a geriatric care appointment, your provider checks your blood pressure, weight, and other vital signs. They review your medical history, symptoms, and medications. Your physician also completes a physical exam that might include:

• Listening to your chest and breathing
• Examining your eyes, ears, throat, teeth, and gums
• Checking your reflexes
• Cancer screening
• Blood or imaging tests
• An electrocardiogram (EKG) or stress tests
• A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) bone scan
• Nutrition screening
• Mental health or dementia screening

What you can expect during a geriatric wellness exam depends on your chronic disease risk factors. Your doctor answers questions you may have about your health and offers vaccinations for illness and disease prevention.

Which treatment might I require?

After your exam, your doctor lets you know if you require treatment to manage a disease or restore your quality of life. Depending on how healthy you are, they might recommend:

Medications

If you suffer from nutrient deficiency, illness, or a disease – such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, arthritis, or dementia – your doctor might recommend medications to better manage and prevent it from worsening.

Lifestyle changes

Making lifestyle changes lowers your risk of developing an illness or reduces its severity. Your provider might suggest making dietary changes, becoming more active, taking dietary supplements, getting additional sleep, or adopting fall prevention strategies.

Senior living devices

If you have hearing or vision impairments or mobility problems, your physician might recommend assistive devices. Examples include a cane, walker, or hearing aid to improve your quality of life and the ability to care for yourself.

Specialist referrals

If you have a serious chronic illness requiring surgery, physical therapy, or rehabilitation – or you’re interested in home health care – your provider refers you to a qualified specialist in your area.

When you want to age gracefully, stay healthy, and prevent minor health problems from becoming serious, schedule an appointment with the geriatric specialists at CFP Physicians Group today, or use the online booking tool.