What you can expect from a first visit to a geriatrician is a comprehensive evaluation of your overall health, which includes your current medications, functional abilities, medical history and your cognitive function.
The geriatrician at your first visit will also discuss with you your goals for care, like maintaining your independence and quality of life.
For your medical history, your geriatrician will gather any detailed information about your past medical conditions as well as any past surgeries that you may have had, medications you take or have taken, "including prescription and over the counter medications", any allergies you have or have had and family history.
You should also expect a thorough physical exam, including taking of your vital signs, blood pressure, heart rate, etc and assessments of your physical function, like your mobility, balance and range of motion.
Your geriatrician will also evaluate your ability to perform daily tasks such as bathing, dressing and eating to understand your overall function status.
And you may also be asked to complete cognitive tests to assess your memory and your thinking skills.
Your geriatrician will also review your current medications to ensure that they are appropriate for you and check for any potential side effects and interactions.
Your geriatrician will also discuss your own personal goals for your care, like maintaining your independence, improving your quality of life and managing your specific health conditions.
And based on the evaluation, your geriatrician will also work with you to develop a personalized care plan which addresses your specific needs and your goals.
Your geriatrician may also schedule follow up appointments with them to monitor your progress and make any adjustments to your care plan as needed.
Geriatricians have specialized knowledge and expertise in areas such as age related conditions, drug interactions as well as palliative care.
Geriatricians also usually have longer appointment times to address the complex needs of older adults and they also work closely with other caregivers and specialists.
A primary care physician is also beneficial for seniors, depending on the seniors preferences and individual needs.
Geriatrics and gerontology are closely related fields and both focus on aging and older adults but with distinct focuses.
Gerontology is a broad multidisciplinary study of aging and encompasses physical, psychological and social aspects.
And Geriatrics is a specific medical specialty that focuses on health and care of elderly people, treating illness and disease that are related to age.