As we entered into spring, the presidential candidates continue the health care debate.  The real issue is that the US has an aging population.  By 2030, the number of adults age 65 and older will nearly double to 70 million. With twenty percent of the Medicare population having at least five chronic conditions (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, arthritis), the question remains: How do we care for these elders? 

Geriatrics is a growing specialty where physicians, nurses, social workers and other health care providers receive special training dedicated to improving the health, independence and quality of life of all older adults.  Geriatricians are physicians who are experts in caring for older persons; they are initially trained in family practice or internal medicine and then complete at least one additional year of fellowship training in geriatrics. They have the expertise to coordinate services among multiple specialty care providers.  For more information on the profession, visit the American Geriatrics Society website at http://www.americangeriatrics.org.

A geriatrician will coordinate a health assessment for older adults with the primary goal of encouraging and promoting wellness and independent function. The health assessment will include an interdisciplinary team approach to the physical, emotional, cognitive, functional, and medication status of the older adult.  If you would like to locate a physician in your area who is sensitive to the special needs of older adults, you can submit your request by completing a form on line located at http://www.healthinaging.org/public_education/physician_referral.php  or contact a geriatric care manager in your area.  To locate a local geriatric care manager, visit http://www.caremanager.org/.  In addition, telephonic geriatric care management services are now offered by My Health Care Manager.  To learn more, visit our website by clicking here.