Frequently Asked Questions
What is Geriatrics?
Geriatrics is the subspecialty of internal medicine concerned with the health and well-being of older adults.
What is a Geriatrician?
A geriatrician is a medical doctor who is specially trained to prevent and manage the unique and, oftentimes, multiple health concerns of older adults. Geriatricians must complete
seven or more years of medical school and postgraduate training and become board certified in Internal Medicine. Then, for an additional year, they study conditions specific to
aging, including geriatric assessment and rehabilitation, preventive medicine, management of patients in long-term care settings, and psycho-social, ethical, legal, and economic
issues pertinent to geriatric patients.
Why See a Geriatrician?
Geriatricians diagnose, treat and manage diseases and conditions that require a special approach when dealing with older adults. They give special attention to situations of
special concern, including falls, incontinence, preoperative assessment and post-operative management, cerebrovascular disease, dementia, sensory impairment and other cognitive and
affective changes that occur with aging.
When Do You Need a Geriatrician?
Geriatricians often become the primary physician for older adults. If this is not the case, your primary physician might refer you to a geriatrician when a problem associated with
aging requires special attention. In some cases, a family member might recognize a need for a geriatrician and suggest you consult one.
How Do Geriatricians Work with Other Physicians?
If geriatricians are not serving as your primary care physician, they often work with other physicians, advising them about a specific diagnosis or treatment plan. More often,
geriatricians act as primary care physicians, relying on many skilled professionals and other subspecialists of internal medicine, nurses, physical and occupational therapists,
psychiatrists, psychologists, pharmacists, and social workers.
Information Provided by the American College of Physicians. |
