What is geriatric care, and who provides it?
Geriatric care targets comprehensive healthcare services for aging adults to help them maintain their physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. Medical doctors who specialize in geriatric care are known as geriatricians. They generally coordinate care with other providers in your healthcare team, including nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, dieticians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, or other specialists.
Geriatricians are experts in diagnosing, treating, and managing multiple medical conditions unique to older adults. They also prioritize preventive care, including annual physicals, health screenings, and vaccines, to control problems or detect them earlier. They guide them on the best exercise regimen, nutrition plans, sleep routine, relaxation techniques, brain games, and other tips to maintain a healthy body and mind.
Types of geriatric care providers
People usually think there is only one type of medical provider when it comes to geriatric care. However, there are indeed various types of such providers who address specific healthcare needs of older adults. Some of them are:
1. Geriatricians or gerontologists: They specialize in geriatric medicine and focus on the unique health concerns of elderly patients.
2. Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP): ANPs are advanced practice nurses specializing in adult primary care. They work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, and physician offices.
3. Geriatrics Nurse Practitioner (GNP): GNPs are advanced practice nurses who provide primary and acute medical care to their targeted patient group. They work in environments such as hospitals, assisted living facilities/adult care homes, long-term care facilities, and nursing homes.
4. Geriatric care manager: Typically nurses or social workers, geriatric care managers are experts in coordinating medical services, offering emotional support, evaluating in-home care needs, and facilitating discussions on sensitive topics related to elderly care.
Geriatricians vs. gerontologists
A geriatrician is a medical doctor with training in geriatric medicine. This means they can diagnose and treat various conditions specific to elderly patients. They can also address other complexities associated with aging, such as assessing the reasons/causes of immobility and side effects of various medications.
On the other hand, a gerontologist is not a medical doctor but a professional trained in the study of aging. They focus on understanding and addressing various aspects of aging and providing supportive care and services to older adults. However, their role is less medically intensive than that of a geriatrician. They can come from diverse fields such as dentistry, social work, or other disciplines and may hold certifications in gerontology.
At what age would you need geriatric care?
Geriatric care focuses on people dealing with chronic illnesses affecting their daily lives. If you are not one of them, you can continue visiting your primary care provider. But, on a general note, people aged 75 years and above frequent geriatric doctors.
What health conditions does geriatric care cover?
The older population experiences several health conditions that require knowledgeable and skilled geriatricians to care for. Some of them include:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Cancer
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Dementia
- Delirium
- Hearing loss
- Vision loss
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Sleep disorders
What can you expect during an appointment with a geriatric care doctor near you?
At your initial appointment, your geriatrician will conduct various assessments covering your physical and mental health, cognitive function, functional status, and more. Comprehensive knowledge about your health status will help them prepare the best treatment plan tailored to your unique requirements. Here is a detailed overview of what to expect during the evaluation:
- Physical and mental health: Your doctor will check your medical records and medications list and discuss your current symptoms. They may also do a physical examination and health screenings to evaluate your risk for future problems such as osteoporosis, hearing loss, fall injuries, and depression.
- Cognitive function: They will use different tests to assess your cognitive function and check for problems such as dementia, sleep disorders, and depression.
- Functional status: The provider will also ask you questions regarding your ability to perform everyday living tasks, including eating, drinking, bathing, dressing, shopping, doing household chores, and taking medications.
- Lifestyle factors: They will also want to understand your level of physical activity, nutrition intake, sleep patterns, and whether you smoke or drink alcohol.
- Social factors: Your living environment and social support play a significant role in having a positive aging experience. Hence, you can expect them to enquire about your social life and if you have the care and support you need.
What should you ask your geriatric provider during the first visit?
Your geriatrician will give you ample time to voice any concerns and queries related to your health. Here are some common questions you can consider asking them during the initial appointment:
- Is geriatric care right for me?
- What are the ways to facilitate healthy aging for myself?
- How can I enjoy better sleep?
- What exercises can improve my balance and coordination?
- When do I schedule the next appointment with you?
- What can I expect during the follow-up visits?
How to lookout for geriatric care doctors near you?
Old age brings along various physical and mental health changes. The body’s ability to fight health conditions and respond to medications reduces significantly. As a result, the senior population commonly suffers from multiple chronic conditions. However, with specialized care, it is possible to have a good quality of life even in the later stage of your life. All you need to do is partner with an excellent geriatric care provider near you.
If you need to find a geriatric care doctor for yourself or a loved one, Zocdoc can help you book an appointment with the best one anywhere across the country! Go to the search bar on the website and enter the required details, including the specialty, location, and insurance details. Once you click enter, you will receive an extensive directory of providers matching your search criteria.
We understand it’s impossible to go through all the pages to find one doctor who can help you.
And that’s why we have introduced Zocdoc filters to make the search process more manageable. You can specify the appointment date and time, visit reasons, and whether you need an in-person or online consultation. You can also feed your preferences regarding the provider’s gender, hospital affiliation, and language.
Using the filters, you can significantly narrow down your search results. To help you make an informed decision, we encourage you to go through the provider profiles. You can find information regarding their education, training, board certifications, licenses, and professional organizations. Furthermore, reading patient reviews and FAQs will provide beneficial details.
However, even if you add your insurance details to your Zocdoc account to help find in-network providers, bringing your insurance card to your appointment is essential. Many medical offices still require physical cards for verification purposes. For more information, visit Zocdoc's Patient Help Center.
Whenever you find the right geriatric care doctor near you, you can book your first appointment via Zocdoc without further delay—it is safe, secure, and 100% free!
Statistics on chronic diseases among the older population and geriatric care
Based on a recent 2023 report by the National Council on Aging, nearly 94.9% of adults aged 60 and above have at least one chronic health condition, followed by about 78.7% with two or more. With a whopping 60% of adults 65+ having hypertension, it is the most prevalent condition among the older age group. High cholesterol affects almost half (about 51%) of the older population.
The other conditions that made the list included arthritis (about 35%), coronary heart disease (about 29%), diabetes (about 27%), chronic kidney disease (about 25%), depression (about 16%), heart failure (about 15%), dementia (about 12%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (about 11%).
According to America’s Health Rankings, as of 2023, there were around 38 geriatric providers per 100,000 adults ages 65 and older. The figures included family medicine and internal medicine geriatricians and nurse practitioners.
Sources
Health in Aging
Oak Street Health
Mount Sinai
Healthline
U.S. News & World Report
Home Care Assistance
National Council on Aging
America’s Health Rankings
Indeed
