Geriatrics

What is geriatric medicine?

Geriatric medicine addresses the complex needs and care of elderly patients. This specialty aims to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older adults.

Comprehensive healthcare of aging patients can take place in an ambulance, in the doctor’s office, a hospital, or in a long-term care setting. Multidisciplinary teams, whose members may include a geriatrician, geriatric nurse practitioner, primary care clinician, nurses, pharmacists, and others, contribute to geriatric care.

What’s the difference between adult and geriatric medicine?

Geriatrics differs from standard adult medicine because it focuses on the unique needs of seniors. Your body is different physiologically from the younger version of your adult body, and during old age, various organ systems start to decline.

Previous health issues and lifestyle choices produce different diseases and symptoms in different people. The respiratory system of a smoker, for example, usually declines much sooner and much quicker than the respiratory system of someone who has never smoked.

Geriatricians distinguish between disease and the effects of normal aging. For example, renal impairment is an unfortunate, but natural part of aging, but renal failure is something entirely different. Geriatricians aim to treat present diseases, helping you stay healthy as you age.

What are the benefits of geriatric care?

Apple Valley Family Medicine evaluates your medical, social, and emotional needs. They focus on health concerns common in elderly patients, such as incontinence, falls, memory problems, and managing multiple chronic conditions and medications.

Prescribing medications for a patient with multiple health problems is more complex. A drug that might be useful in treating one problem can make another problem worse, and taking various medications can cause problematic drug interactions and side effects.

Your functional abilities, independence, and quality of life are top priority.

When should you seek geriatric care?

Typically, you should consider seeing a doctor who specializes in geriatric care when:

• Your condition causes significant impairment and frailty
• You’re over the age of 75 and have some diseases or disabilities, including memory problems
• Your family members and friends are under significant stress as caregivers and have trouble following complex treatments or dealing with multiple healthcare providers

If you think you or a loved one is in need of geriatric care, call Apple Valley Family Medicine or schedule an appointment online. Dr. Ude-Oshiyoye and Dr. Oshiyoye provide an assortment of services in addition to the services currently listed online. Call the office to learn more.