Geriatric Medicine Scope: Conditions, Diseases, Treatments, and Procedures
Geriatrics is a specialty that focuses on the medical care and treatment of older people. It is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates many different aspects of preventive and clinical care, focusing on the diagnosis, management, and prevention of age-related diseases and conditions. The scope of geriatric medicine focuses on the physical, psychological, and social aspects of care for older adults.
Geriatricians are trained in the management of common age-related illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, arthritis, and depression. Geriatricians also diagnose and treat other diseases and conditions in older adults including cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, mental health disorders, dementia, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence, arthritis, falls and fractures, hearing loss, vision loss, malnutrition, sleep disturbances and handle age-related injuries such as hip fractures and minor lacerations. Geriatricians must be knowledgeable about the unique needs and vulnerabilities of older adults and take into consideration the effects that aging can have on physical and mental health. Some geriatricians are provide end-of-life care, including palliative care and hospice services.
Geriatric medicine also deals with issues related to lifestyle such as diet and nutrition, exercise, mental health and emotional well-being, social engagement, housing, transportation, and financial security. Geriatricians often collaborate with other healthcare professionals such as nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and social workers to ensure the best possible outcome for their patients.
Geriatricians may employ a variety of treatments to manage their patients’ conditions, including medication management, lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise recommendations, referral to specialists or other healthcare professionals as needed, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Geriatricians may also provide counseling and education on topics such as fall prevention or managing chronic conditions.
Qualifications, Training, and Certifications
In order to become a geriatrician, a physician must complete a three-year residency in internal medicine or family medicine plus additional training in geriatrics.
Geriatricians must be knowledgeable about the unique needs and vulnerabilities of older adults, as well as the effects that aging can have on physical and mental health. In addition, geriatricians must be able to collaborate with other healthcare professionals such as nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and social workers to ensure the best possible outcomes for their patients.
Related Medical Specialties to Geriatric Medicine
Geriatric medicine has many related medical specialties, including geriatric psychiatry, geriatric nursing, geriatric physical therapy, all internal medicine specialties (e.g., cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, rheumatology, pulmonology, critical care, gastroenterology), hospice and palliative care, and nutrition.
Geriatric psychiatry focuses on the mental health needs of older adults. Geriatric psychiatrists are trained to diagnose and treat mental health disorders such as dementia, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder in older adults.
Geriatric nursing is a specialty area of nursing that focuses on providing comprehensive care to older adults. Geriatric nurses must be knowledgeable about aging-related physical and mental health changes and be able to effectively manage chronic conditions in older adults.
Geriatric physical therapy and occupational therapy focus on helping older adults maintain their independence. These therapists specialize in developing individualized exercise programs to improve strength, balance and mobility, as well as providing assistive devices such as walkers or canes if needed.
Nutrition is an important aspect of geriatrics that focuses on ensuring that older adults get adequate nutrition to maintain their health. Nutritionists can provide counseling on healthy eating habits as well as advice on supplements or vitamins if needed.
Medical-Legal Cases Involving Geriatric Medicine
Medical-legal cases involving geriatrics may include issues such as elder abuse, neglect, patient autonomy and informed consent, guardianship, malpractice, or wrongful death. In many cases, the patient’s age and the associated physical and mental changes that come with aging are at the center of the case.
For example, in an elder abuse case, the geriatrician may be asked to evaluate whether or not the elderly person has been abused or neglected and to provide evidence to support any claims. In a case involving patient autonomy and informed consent, a geriatrician may be asked to assess the patient’s cognitive abilities and determine whether the patient had the capacity to make informed decisions about their medical care.
In cases involving guardianship, a geriatrician may be asked to testify as to whether or not a person is capable of making decisions regarding their own healthcare or if they require a guardian to make decisions on their behalf.
In wrongful death cases, a geriatrician may be asked to evaluate the cause of death and provide an opinion as to whether or not it was due to neglect or improper medical care.