Getting older comes with a lot of changes — and a lot of challenges, too. Making sure your healthcare keeps up with those changes and challenges is an essential part of staying healthy. That’s when geriatric care can help.
At Primary Care Associates, our team specializes in geriatric care focused on every patient’s unique needs as they get older. If you’re 50 or over, here’s how geriatric care can help you stay healthy now and in the years to come.
Aging gracefully is excellent — in theory. In actuality, there’s no denying the changes — often dramatic changes — that happen to your physical and emotional health as you get older.
A lot of people think of age-related changes as primarily cosmetic. That’s not surprising since the outward signs of aging are readily apparent in your mirror. But that’s just a tiny part of what’s going on with your body.
Just as pediatrics focuses on kids and teens’ unique health and medical needs, geriatric care specializes in meeting the unique needs and challenges that crop up as we get older. Working with a geriatrics specialist at Primary Care Associates means you can feel confident your care will be optimized on your evolving needs, as well as your medical history.
Our team customizes your care based on your unique needs, so your specific benefits will vary depending on you. Generally speaking, geriatrics provides some crucial benefits for all patients, including these five.
According to the National Council on Aging, 8 out of every 10 older people have at least one chronic disease — and many have more than one. Geriatric care fine-tunes disease management with medication, lifestyle changes, and other therapies to reduce symptoms and decrease the risk of serious complications.
Not surprisingly, many older people take multiple medications, increasing the risk of potential complications. Your geriatrics care provider acts as a healthcare concierge, keeping track of your medications as well as past, present, and evolving health factors, to help you get the benefits of your medicines without the potential downsides.
In addition to “traditional” medical care, our team provides lifestyle guidance and support to help you feel your best physically and mentally. Lifestyle support includes things like:
We can also identify support groups and community resources to help you live a happy, healthy, confident life as you age.
Preventive care when you’re older “look” a lot different than when you’re younger. In part, that’s because certain diseases and medical conditions become more common as you age, including:
Our team recommends the most appropriate preventive care options to help you stay healthy, including lifestyle changes, medication and other therapies, vaccines, and age-appropriate medical screenings, all tailored to your unique needs.
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are crucial for many people’s long-term care plans. But a lot of people prefer to age in place for as long as possible.
Our team works with family members and other care providers to help you make the best decision for your long-term care needs. We can also identify ways to “elder-proof” your home to reduce the risks of falls and other accidents.
Seeing a geriatric specialist regularly as you get older is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself — and your loved ones. To schedule a geriatric care visit or learn more about our team’s services, call the office in Frederick or Clarksburg, Maryland, or book an appointment online today.
