Geriatric Medicine

Comprehensive Care for Older Adults:

• Older adults often have multiple chronic conditions that interact with one another, requiring specialized, coordinated care. Geriatricians (doctors specializing in geriatrics) manage complex health issues like diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, heart disease, and cognitive decline (e.g., dementia and Alzheimer’s disease).

Focus on Functional Independence:

• Geriatric medicine prioritizes maintaining or improving functional independence—helping older adults perform daily activities such as dressing, eating, walking, and bathing, as well as addressing mobility and fall prevention.

Polypharmacy Management:

• Older adults often take multiple medications, which can lead to drug interactions and side effects. Geriatricians focus on simplifying medication regimens and adjusting dosages to avoid harmful side effects, a practice called polypharmacy management.

Cognitive Health:

• Cognitive decline is common in aging. Geriatricians assess memory, reasoning, and mental health issues such as dementia, depression, and delirium, which can significantly impact an older person’s ability to function independently.

Chronic Disease Management:

• Geriatricians are skilled at managing long-term conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease, ensuring these are managed with minimal impact on the patient’s quality of life.

Palliative and End-of-Life Care:

• Geriatric medicine also involves palliative care, which focuses on relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life for those with serious illnesses. Geriatricians work closely with patients and their families to make decisions about end-of-life care, advance directives, and hospice care when necessary.

Multidisciplinary Approach:

• Geriatric care is often delivered by a team that includes not just doctors but also nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, and nutritionists. This approach ensures that the various physical, emotional, and social needs of older adults are addressed.

Falls and Injury Prevention:

• Geriatricians assess risk factors for falls and work to reduce the risk of injury, which is common in the elderly due to decreased bone density, balance issues, and muscle weakness.