Geriatric Care Specialist

What is geriatric care?

Geriatric care is a branch of medicine that focuses on the well-being of people ages 65 and over. A team of caregivers may include nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, social workers, and a primary care physician. 

Your provider at Northeast Medical, PC has geriatric care training. They provide individualized treatment plans, medical exams, and full support in helping patients understand complex information about their health.

What areas does geriatric care focus on?

The team at Northeast Medical, PC uses the 5 M’s of geriatric care to form the framework of patient care plans: mind, mobility, medication, multicomplexity, and “matters most.”

Mind

Mind focuses on maintaining mental activity, helping manage delirium and/or dementia, and evaluating and treating depression.

Mobility

Mobility focuses on preventing patients from falling and suffering an injury, as well as maintaining the ability to walk and remain balanced.

Medication

Medication involves prescribing medicines a patient needs to support their circumstances and deprescribing any they no longer require. This is to reduce polypharmacy, which means taking multiple medications at the same time. 

This area of geriatric care also covers the need to educate patients and their families on the dangers of medication mismanagement.

Multicomplexity

Multicomplexity focuses on helping older adults manage several health conditions at once and making sure their living conditions are appropriate to their needs.

Matters most

Matters most takes into account each patient’s preferences about how they wish to be treated. It focuses on inclusivity, involving them in their care planning to ensure both doctor and patient work toward the same health goals. 

The 5 M’s are an excellent way to ensure that every aspect of a patient’s care is thought through and acted on.

When should I seek geriatric care?

People ages 65 and over have different health needs compared with children or younger adults. They might have three or more chronic medical conditions, or they might have to manage multiple medications.

The team at Northeast Medical, PC provides treatment and care for these needs and others, including: 

• Memory changes
  
• Osteoporosis
  
• Frequent falls
  
• Trouble sleeping
  
• Balance problems
  
• Constipation
  
• Bladder control
  
• Fatigue
  
• Depression
  
• Changes in eating habits
  
• Difficulty getting around 

It’s essential you get the right level of care for your needs. If you’re 65 or older and have questions about your health and how you can do more to take control of it, reach out to Northeast Medical, PC. Call today or use the online inquiry form.