As more Americans get older, there is a growing need for health care specifically for seniors. This includes things like regular check-ups, brain health assessments, and chronic care management for long-term health and wellness concerns. In this blog, we will talk about navigating geriatric care services so you or your loved one gets the services they need for a long and productive life.
What Is Geriatric Care?
Geriatric care, or elderly care, is a type of healthcare for people who are typically 65 or older. These services can help with common problems that come with getting older, such as arthritis, hearing and memory problems, and issues with moving around.
Geriatric care services provide seniors with patient support, education, and resources to help them stay healthy and independent. They also provide families with the information they need to help look after their loved ones.
Different Types of Geriatric Care Services
As we age, our health and wellbeing become the highest priority. Geriatric care helps provide a wide spectrum of services tailored to meet the unique needs of older adults. Here are a few common types of geriatric care services:
Annual Wellness Exams
Annual wellness exams are an important part of senior health care. These exams are usually carried out by primary care providers (PCPs) or family medicine providers who offer routine check-ups to monitor your health, providing an early-detection platform for potential health issues and the appropriate treatments for illnesses.
Diagnostic Care
Diagnostic care forms an essential part of geriatric health care to identify a specific health issue. Your PCP can refer you to heart, brain, or bone specialists to conduct tests and interpret results to diagnose diseases and create a personalized treatment plan.
Cognitive Assessments
Maintaining your brain health becomes more important as you age. Cognitive assessments are done to evaluate a senior’s cognitive abilities, including memory, attention, and language skills.
The results of these assessments help your PCP track your cognitive health and monitor its progression, which is essential in mitigating the risk of diseases like dementia.
Chronic Care Management
Many older adults may grapple with one, two, or even multiple chronic diseases like arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease. Chronic care management involves continuous support from your family medicine practitioner, managing medications, coordinating care, and providing the right support for your chronic conditions.
Preventive Healthcare
Preventive healthcare is a proactive approach to staying healthy. This involves routine check- ups, health screenings, vaccines, and lifestyle modifications like diet and exercise. Preventive care aims to keep diseases at bay and maintain a healthy life for seniors.
Additional geriatric care services like home health services, hospice care, and rehabilitation also play a significant role in ensuring seniors’ health and comfort. Each of these brings a unique value, providing comprehensive care that positively impacts the lives of our seniors.
Why Are Geriatric Care Services Important?
Geriatric care services are important because they focus specifically on the unique needs of seniors. Our bodies change as we get older, which may lead us to develop new health conditions or need more help with the ones we already have. Geriatric care providers can spot any changes and figure out ways to prevent them from getting worse.
Another important part of geriatric care is providing emotional support for seniors. As people age, they may feel lonely or depressed. Geriatric care services provide the support and understanding seniors need.
Geriatric care services also help coordinate and manage different parts of a senior’s healthcare. This includes scheduling appointments with specialists, managing medications, and making sure all doctors have the information they need.
Lastly, geriatric care services help seniors stay independent. This may include helping with activities of daily living such as bathing, getting dressed, and making meals. By providing this support, seniors can continue living in their own homes instead of moving into assisted living facilities.
Geriatrics in Colorado Springs, CO
At Abundance Health Care, we understand the importance of a personalized approach to patient care. That is why Dr. La Tasha Bruner-Hill and her caring team get to know each senior in our care and develop customized treatment plans that meet specific health needs and goals.
We look at each person as a whole, considering not just how long they will live, but also the quality of their life.
We provide specialized care for seniors, including managing chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and dementia. We also provide yearly preventive services like wellness physicals, cognitive assessments, cancer screenings, and vaccinations to help our patients stay healthy. Along with medical care, we also refer patients for support services like physical therapy, occupational therapy, and social work to ensure they get the comprehensive care they need for all aspects of their health.
To learn more about us, contact our office team for a consultation with Dr. La Tasha Bruner-Hill. Call us today at (720) 869-0547 or request your visit here. We look forward to being your partner in health and wellness.
