Geriatric Doctors Near Me

The biggest difference between a geriatric doctor and a general practitioner is based on the geriatric doctor’s focus on caring for seniors. Geriatricians are better equipped to screen patients for medical conditions related to aging like cognitive impairment or osteoporosis. They’re trained to treat a wide range of ailments as primary care physicians, but specialize in care for older adults. A geriatrician focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases in seniors and the elderly, and may also be known as a senior care doctor.

It is common for geriatric specialists to treat adults who have multiple chronic conditions, such as osteoporosis, diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, and dementia, or incontinence. Geriatricians often provide routine primary care for the elderly.

What does a geriatrician treat?

A geriatrician specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions common in adults as they age. Patients of geriatric doctors often have multiple chronic health conditions for which they receive ongoing care. As a primary care physician, a geriatric doctor will:

• Understand a patient’s medical history and develop a wellness and preventive care plan
• Diagnose and treat chronic physical, emotional and behavioral illnesses such as:
  • Physical conditions: Diabetes, heart diseases, obesity, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, incontinence
  • Behavioral conditions: Dementia, depression, anxiety, substance abuse
• Ensure patients are being screened for cancer (breast, prostate, skin, etc.)
• Provide laboratory and image tests to understand underlying health conditions
• Consult with other specialist health care providers as necessary to support the patient’s care needs

At what age do you see a geriatric doctor?

Generally, adults over 65 may see a geriatric doctor, though depending on the health of the individual, it may not be necessary to see a geriatric specialist until the patient is being treated for at least one chronic health conditions. For older adults and seniors, geriatricians often are a patient’s primary care physician.

When should you see a geriatric doctor?

While older adults may receive care from internal medicine and family medicine trained doctors, patients over 65 with one or more chronic conditions, may choose to see a geriatrician instead. If a patient has multiple chronic illnesses, is taking multiple daily medications, losing balance and strength, or has a diseases associated with aging (such as osteoporosis, heart disease, or dementia), it may be beneficial to see a geriatric doctor who has experience managing multiple conditions and treatment plans.

How do I choose a geriatrician?

The most important part of picking a geriatrician, or any doctor, is that you feel comfortable with the doctor and the practice as a whole. To do that, think about factors that matter to you, such as: the doctor’s gender, location, special medical conditions you have, language spoken by the doctor, and the doctor’s availability outside regular business hours. These are all factors that impact your ability to feel comfortable with a particular doctor. After putting your needs first, make sure they take your insurance and have good reviews online or from people you know.