Getting older doesn’t automatically mean you need a new doctor. If you’re healthy, active, and happy with your primary care doctor, stick with what’s working! But if your health needs are shifting, and you find yourself trying to stay on top of multiple medical issues, treatments, and mobility concerns, you might benefit from working with a doctor who specializes in helping seniors with their health.
That’s where geriatrics comes in. This medical specialty focuses on the changing health needs of older adults, taking a whole-person approach that goes beyond treating individual conditions. Geriatricians look at the bigger picture and focus on helping seniors manage their health while maintaining independence, safety, and quality of life.
How do you know if a geriatrician might be a good fit for you or a loved one? Start with this primer on what geriatrics is, who might benefit from a geriatrician, and ways to find one in your area.
Jump to:
- What Is Geriatrics?
- What Is a Geriatrician?
- What Does a Geriatrician Do?
- What Does a Geriatrician Treat?
- What Age Should You See a Geriatrician?
- Signs You Need a Geriatrician
- Geriatrician vs. Primary Care Doctor
- Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment
- What to Expect at Your Appointment
- Geriatric Care Team
- Geriatrics vs. Gerontology
- Find a Geriatrician Near You
What Is Geriatrics?
Geriatrics refers to medical care focused on preventing, diagnosing, and managing health concerns in older adults, particularly older adults whose healthcare needs have become complex, according to HealthInAging.org.
Geriatric medicine takes a whole-person approach: In addition to evaluating and treating issues related to physical health, a geriatrician considers the big picture to see how an older adult can stay independent for as long as possible. That may involve providing support for cognitive or emotional health, mobility, and other needs that seniors can have.
“Rather than concentrating on a single organ or disease, we ask a broader question: What is affecting this person’s ability to live safely, independently, and well, and what can be done about it?” says Katie Krause, M.D., the division head of geriatric medicine at Peterborough Regional Health Centre and medical director of the Kawartha Centre, a healthy aging research and care clinic in Ontario, Canada.
What Is a Geriatrician?
As you might guess, a geriatrician is a doctor who focuses on geriatrics. After training in internal medicine or family medicine, they go through additional training focused on the care of older adults. Think of them as specialists, but instead of specializing in a particular part of the body like the heart or kidneys, they focus on the needs of older adults.
As some people get older, they may transition from seeing a primary care doctor to having a geriatrician as their primary care doctor, says Samir Sinha, M.D., a geriatrician and clinical scientist with Sinai Health System and professor of medicine at the University of Toronto in Canada.
What Does a Geriatrician Do?
Geriatricians provide care for older adults by focusing on five key areas, per HealthInAging.org. They:
- Address mobility concerns to help people move safely and reduce fall risk.
- Help older adults manage multiple health problems.
- Oversee medication use.
- Provide care for memory, thinking, and mood.
- Tailor their treatment to an older adult’s goals, values, and preferences.
A geriatrician can also serve as the point person for sending seniors to see specialists for certain issues. For instance, “we might prescribe physical therapy to manage fall risks or refer them to a community social worker if they’re lonely,” Dr. Sinha says. Or if a patient is on blood pressure-lowering medications that are causing them to feel dizzy, the geriatrician may talk with the patient’s cardiologist about lowering the dose to prevent possible falls.
This model of care helps many older adults stay healthier, research suggests. In one 18-month JAMA Network Open study of veterans who either transitioned to geriatric care or stayed with their primary care provider, those who transitioned to geriatric care were nearly four times more likely to undergo a functional assessment and nearly three times more likely to be screened for incontinence or fall risk. Another study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found that geriatricians were 16% less likely to prescribe an inappropriate medication to an older patient compared to primary care providers.
What Conditions Does a Geriatrician Treat?
Geriatricians are trained to treat health conditions that commonly affect older people. Per the Alzheimer’s Association and the University of Chicago Medicine, these can include, but aren’t limited to:
- Arthritis
- Chronic pain
- Cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s and dementia
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Incontinence
- Insomnia or sleep issues
- Malnutrition
- Mental health issues, including depression and anxiety
- Mobility issues, like trouble walking or balancing
- Osteoporosis
- Preventive care needs, including cancer screenings, heart health screenings, and immunizations
- Sensory impairments
- Vision loss
What Age Should You See a Geriatrician?
As a general rule, most geriatric practices see adults ages 65 and older, since that’s the cutoff age for having geriatric visits covered by Medicare. People with certain health problems may qualify to have geriatric care covered as early as age 55, according to Merck Manuals.
But technically, there’s no universal age for when an older adult should start seeing a geriatrician. “It mainly depends on health and functioning, not age,” Dr. Krause says. “A healthy, active 85-year-old may never need a geriatrician, while a 70-year-old with several chronic conditions, memory concerns, and recent falls may benefit considerably,” she says. Have a conversation with your primary care doctor if you’re not sure what’s right for you.
Signs You Need a Geriatrician
If you’re not sure whether you would benefit from transitioning to geriatric care, Dr. Krause recommends asking yourself these questions. If the answer to one or more is yes, you might consider seeing a geriatrician.
Have you (or your family members):
- Noticed concerning changes in your memory or thinking?
- Had a decline in your ability to manage household tasks, finances, or personal care?
- Experienced falls, near-falls, or unsteadiness?
- Had trouble managing medications or experienced side effects?
- Had repeated emergency visits or hospital stays, or had an episode of confusion during a hospital stay?
- Felt concerned about safety at home or driving?
- Noticed a family caregiver becoming overwhelmed by your care?
Geriatrician vs. Primary Care Doctor: What’s the Difference?
These are some of the details that set these two types of doctors apart.
| Primary Care Doctor | Geriatrician |
|---|---|
| Provides preventive and routine care for adults of all ages | Focuses on the health needs of older adults |
| Manages common chronic conditions | Has expertise in managing multiple interacting conditions |
| Reviews and manages medications | Has expertise in managing multiple medications (polypharmacy) |
| Refers to specialists, coordinates care as needed | Often coordinates care across an interdisciplinary team |
| May address mental health, lifestyle, and other wellness needs | Emphasizes mental health, social support, and daily functioning along with the patient’s goals and values |
What Is a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment?
A comprehensive geriatric assessment, or CGA, evaluates an older adult’s physical and mental health, as well as the social, environmental, and financial factors that contribute to their overall well-being, per American Family Physician. “It’s different than a standard assessment [done by a primary care doctor] because it’s holistic,” Dr. Sinha says.
A geriatrician will conduct a CGA with a team of specialists. In addition to performing a physical exam, the CGA will evaluate:
- Functional status and ability to perform daily tasks
- Mobility and fall risk
- Cognition, thinking, and memory
- Medications you’re taking and any side effects
- Nutrition status
- Vision and hearing
- Mood
- Bathroom habits
- Social circumstances and support
- Goals and values
From there, your geriatrician will work with you to identify areas of focus to help you achieve your long-term goals. “The result is a practical care plan, shared with the patient, family, and referring provider, that may include medication changes, further testing, therapy, and/or referrals to community services,” says Dr. Krause.
What to Expect at Your First Geriatrician Appointment
Your first geriatrician appointment may include a CGA or several key aspects of it, depending on your insurance coverage, per American Family Physician. Either way, “expect many questions about health history, daily routines, mood, memory, and living situation, along with a physical examination and some simple tests of memory,” says Dr. Krause. Your first visit usually takes around 90 minutes, but some can be longer.
Your provider will likely send you a new patient questionnaire that should be completed before your visit. They’ll use that questionnaire to guide your appointment and identify areas of health and well-being that you want to focus on, Dr. Sinha adds.
Bring along as much information about your health as you can for your doctor to review, such as:
- A complete list of medications, supplements, and over-the-counter products you use.
- A list of questions or concerns that you’d like to talk about with your doctor.
- Hearing aids or glasses, if you use them.
- Records from your primary care doctor.
One other must-bring: A family member or close friend that you trust. “Bring someone who can listen well, fill in the blanks, and give collateral information,” says Dr. Sinha.
Who Is Part of a Geriatric Care Team?
A geriatrician is just one healthcare professional who may support your care. “I say geriatrics is a team sport,” says Dr. Sinha. Other members of your geriatric care team may include:
- Consultant pharmacists who can create a plan for managing medications
- Dietitians specializing in meal plans for older adults
- Geriatric nurse practitioners
- Occupational therapists
- Physical therapists who can teach you balance exercises
- Physician assistants
- Psychiatrists and/or psychologists
- Social workers
- Speech and hearing specialists
Geriatrics vs. Gerontology: What’s the Difference?
Geriatrics and gerontology both deal with older adults, but in different ways, according to EBSCO. Geriatrics is a medical specialty that focuses on treating and caring for seniors. Gerontology, on the other hand, is a scientific field of study that looks at the aging process. Medical doctors practice geriatrics, while scientists and other academic experts study gerontology.
How to Find a Geriatrician Near You
While insights from geriatricians can be invaluable to helping you age well, there is a surprising shortage of these specialists in the United States. If you’re looking for a geriatrician in your area, your primary care doctor can be a good place to start. They may have relationships with local geriatric specialists who they can refer you to.
You can also find geriatricians near you through the American Geriatrics Society. Use their online search tool to find doctors in your city, state, or zip code. Or call them at 800-563-4916 to request a paper list that can be mailed to you.
Bottom line? The field of geriatrics exists specifically to help seniors with complex health or medical needs get the treatment they need. Not everyone needs a geriatrician, but for some, they can be a valuable ally in the quest to maintain independence as you age.
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