Why patients 65 and older should see a geriatrician.
As people age, they tend to develop multiple health problems— diabetes, arthritis and high blood pressure, for instance—and may take several medications to treat them.
Since illnesses and medications can affect older adults differently, it pays to see a geriatrician—a health care provider who specializes in caring for seniors. At Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus (MMCSC), the James and Sharon Maida Geriatrics Institute provides comprehensive health care for patients who are 65 and older. The Institute’s multidisciplinary team includes geriatricians, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, pharmacists, health educators, physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists. Leading the team is Abhijit Chatterjee, MD, a fellowship-trained physician who is board-certified in both geriatrics and internal medicine. Here, he explains how a geriatrician can benefit older adults.
Why see a geriatrician?
Geriatricians are board-certified internists or family physicians who have received additional training in caring for the aging body. They’re well-versed in recognizing signs of illness in the elderly, as well as conditions that commonly affect seniors. These include frailty, dizziness, urinary incontinence, dementia, depression and sleep difficulties. They are also trained to treat these conditions and help the elderly function better with these medical problems.
At what age should I see a geriatrician?
Although there is no hard and fast rule, age 65 is generally considered the ideal time to make an appointment with a geriatrician.
What’s unique about the Institute?
The Institute is located within the hospital. Patients receive the personalized care of a physician with
all the benefits and resources of a hospital. We have two fellowship-trained, board-certified geriatricians, each with more than 20 years
of experience in all facets of geriatric care, as well as a geriatric nurse practitioner. We also have a full-time social worker who can help patients navigate complex social issues, such as financial difficulties and living conditions.
In addition, we have physical and occupational therapists, audiology services for hearing checks, nutritionists and pharmacists. If a patient needs a blood test or an X-ray, he or she can have it done right away.
What’s a typical visit like?
New patients fill out a form before their first visit. We ask about chronic medical conditions, the patient’s living situation and next of kin. During the initial appointment, a nurse checks the patient’s vital signs and conducts memory and depression screenings. Next, a physical exam is performed, and we ask the patient what medications he or she is taking. The more medications a patient takes, the more he or she is at risk for side effects.Sometimes medications can be stopped entirely or a lower dose can be prescribed. Once the physical exam is complete, a comprehensive plan is formulated for the patient’s well-being.
Appropriate blood tests and X-rays are ordered, and a referral to a physical therapist may be made. This is important because a lack of stability can lead to falls, which is a concern if the patient is living alone. We may ask an occupational therapist to go to the patient’s home to assess the situation and offer safety recommendations, such as installing handrails in the bathroom. In addition, a patient may receive one or more screening tests, such as a hearing check. A visit often concludes with a meeting with our social worker.
What kind of impact can a geriatrician have on a patient’s quality of life?
I feel I can truly make my patients’ lives better. Taking care of a senior is more effective when there is a team involved. The enormous resources available to us enable us to offer comprehensive care for all seniors, ranging from providing health maintenance and immunizations for the young elderly to managing disability in the frail elderly.
Quality End-of-Life Care
If a frail elderly person or an older adult with a terminal illness is admitted to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, physicians at the James and Sharon Maida Geriatrics Institute may be asked to provide palliative care, in which the symptoms of a serious illness are treated. The focus is on preventing suffering rather than curing the illness.
Institute physicians avoid ordering additional medical tests or prescribing more aggressive treatment if it won’t improve the patient’s overall quality of life. Says Abhijit Chatterjee, MD, a geriatrician at the Institute: “We encourage patients to come to terms with their illness and craft a treatment plan that will address the condition and help them be more comfortable.”
For more information on the James and Sharon Maida Geriatrics Institute at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, call 732.886.4700