Why it is essential to be under the care of a Geriatric Medicine Doctors?

People over the age of 65 often wonder if they should start visiting a geriatric doctor instead of their regular family doctor, as their healthcare needs tend to change and may become more complex as they get older.

Geriatrics is a specialty of medicine that focuses on treating and caring for senior citizens. It is important to find a geriatric doctor that you can trust – the sooner this can be done, the better. As our population becomes increasingly older, thanks to the demographic bulge of the Baby Boomer generation, the need for this care has become important to families everywhere.

Understanding Geriatric Care

Senior parents and other aging loved ones often require specialized health attention. Achieving and maintaining optimal health and wellness for geriatric patients, however, is more than a matter of just medicine. Effective care for geriatrics is a job for teamwork between health professionals and caregivers. Both come together to manage health conditions and provide a safe, positive environment for their seniors.

Many health problems occur or intensify simply as a result of the aging process. In geriatric patients, these problems are often complicated by additional declines in physical or mental abilities. This often leads to a spiral where the patient isn’t able to keep up with their own care and negative health episodes become more likely or frequent. To combat these issues, it is always recommended to be in touch with your Geriatric Medicine Doctors Orland Park. 

Common Geriatric Health Issues

Here are a few geriatric health issues mentioned:

Urinary Incontinence

This condition means a person is unable to reliably control their bladder and leaks by accident. While this disease can happen to anyone, it is more common in older people, and especially women. When treated by an experienced geriatrician, incontinence can often be cured or controlled.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition where people stop breathing while they sleep. People with this disease sometimes stop breathing hundreds of times during the night, often for as long as a minute. Sleep apnea can have serious and life-shortening consequences if left untreated. Sleep apnea can be treated through diagnosis, simple devices, and lifestyle changes. Further, the geriatrician can help assess and treat the causes of sleep apnea, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a loss of bone tissue that occurs with age and leads to weak and fragile bones. Osteoporosis increases the risk for broken bones during a fall, particularly in the hip and wrist. About one in three seniors fall each year, and senior falls cause over 3 million emergency room visits annually. A geriatrician can identify osteoporosis and arrange referrals to appropriate specialists if needed. Your Primary Care Physicians in Homer Glen can also refer you to a Geriatric Medicine Doctor. Suburban Wellness is highly experienced in caring for geriatric patients and their families. You can schedule your appointment or book a telemedicine consultation from the comfort of your home through the PatientMD platform. 

Alzheimer’s Disease

It is a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. Eventually, it can stop the ability to carry out even the simplest activities for daily living. However, several lifestyle risk factors that can contribute to Alzheimer’s or intensify it, can be modified. The geriatrician can help guide patients and their families for dealing with this disease.

Parkinson’s Disease

It is a nervous system disorder that affects movement. Because the disease is progressive, symptoms start gradually. Tremors are common, but the disorder also commonly causes stiffness of the limbs or slowing of movement. Geriatric care will usually make a first diagnosis based on symptoms and an exam. While there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, there are medications that can help manage the symptoms.

Receive The Best Care While Maintaining Independent Living

When seeking medical attention for geriatric patients, it is important to find Geriatric Medicine Doctors that can help the entire family navigate the challenges of caring for their elderly loved ones. Many of the medical conditions and symptoms that our elderly loved ones have to live with can now be managed better than ever before. Advances in diagnostics, imaging, and medications can ease pain and discomfort while bringing stability and confidence back to the family caregivers.