A geriatrician, also known as a geriatric doctor, is a physician who specializes in the healthcare needs of older adults. Geriatricians focus on managing the complex physical, mental, and social changes that often come with aging, such as managing multiple health conditions or chronic diseases. While a primary care doctor provides general medical care for people of all ages, a geriatric doctor is specifically trained to recognize and treat issues specific to older adults. Geriatricians consider how treatments interact with aging bodies and how they can support overall health and wellness for their patients. 

Typically, people start seeing a geriatric doctor around age 65, especially if they have multiple health conditions, mobility challenges, memory issues, or other age-related concerns. However, there isn’t a strict age limit – any adult with complex health needs or concerns about aging may benefit from seeing a geriatrician. By working with a geriatrician, older adults receive care tailored to their needs, which can help prevent complications and improve daily functioning. 

A geriatrician performs various assessments to evaluate an older adult’s overall health. Common tests include memory tests to check for cognitive changes, mobility assessments to identify any risk of falls, and mental health screenings for depression or anxiety. They may also review medications to avoid drug interactions and conduct routine health tests like blood pressure and blood work to monitor chronic conditions. These tests are important for creating a personalized care plan that supports each patient’s health and independence. 

A Geriatrician is a type of primary care provider, and is responsible for your ongoing healthcare monitoring and maintenance, and is your first line of treatment. You should see your Geriatrician near you at least once a year. If new symptoms arise, they will also help you get properly diagnosed, although for many situations you will need to see a specialist near you to get diagnosed and treated.

You can find a Geriatrician in any of the 10 largest U.S. cities by clicking below:
Geriatricians near New York, NY
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Geriatricians near Boston, MA
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Geriatricians near San Jose, CA

• A pediatrician is an expert in childhood growth and development and they are frequently the primary care provider for children under 18.
• Adults generally see an Internist, a General Practitioner, or a Family Practitioner (often informally called a Family Doctor) for their primary care.
• Older adults may see a Geriatrician, which is a provider that specializes in the care of older people.
• Some women choose to receive their primary care from their OB/GYN (obstetrician/gynecologist), though if you have multiple medical issues, it may be in your best interest to find a primary care physician.

Typically, your Geriatrician will refer you to a specialist if they believe it to be necessary. You can also explore your symptoms or research your diagnosis to see what kinds of providers commonly treat your health condition near you.

When you’re making important health decisions, it’s always recommended to get medical opinions from more than one provider, whether that be another Geriatrician or a specialist near you. If you just received a diagnosis from you Geriatrician, but something in your gut tells you to seek more guidance, it’s OK to consult with another doctor near you to get additional insight into your condition and care. Second opinions are highly valuable because they can either confirm or disprove your original diagnosis or provide different perspectives from different Geriatrician. Most doctors, including Geriatricians, will not get offended and welcome second opinions, especially if you were diagnosed with a serious or rare condition. You can even use MediFind to search for another Geriatrician or specialist near you who can provide a second opinion.

There are over 7,000 conditions that providers, including Geriatricians and specialists need to treat. With so many conditions, it is nearly impossible for any provider to be an expert in every unique condition, even in just one geographic area. However, plenty of research has shown that experience is the best predictor of expertise, and it is important to find a doctor who has a lot of experience with your particular condition. MediFind can help you find a doctor or a second opinion for your condition. 
When talking with your Geriatrician, be honest and don’t hold anything back, since your doctor can only help you with the information you give them. Understanding the full picture will give your Geriatrician more to work with and help them provide you with the best care.

Geriatricians know there is new scientific research happening all the time, and in fact, it’s estimated that the total body of medical knowledge now doubles every 73 days. That’s a lot of information to keep up with, even for an excellent Geriatrician. MediFind can help you explore the latest medical advances, research, and breakthroughs for your health condition, giving you access to the same cutting-edge information as your Geriatrician.

How can I research clinical trials my Geriatrician might tell me about, especially ones that are located near you?
Depending on your specific health condition, your Geriatrician may bring up clinical trials near you during one of your appointments. The purpose of clinical trials is to find improvements or discoveries for diseases and treatments, and your Geriatrician may be working to stay on top of these developments, or refer you to a specialist who focuses on your condition. MediFind can help you easily search and filter clinical trials for your health condition, including those near you, that your Geriatrician might bring up. You can also learn more about what to consider when exploring clinical trials that you may wish to discuss with your Geriatrician.

Bring your list of concerns (or reasons for your visit) with you on a piece of paper or your phone, so you can easily recall them when speaking to your Geriatrician. You may want to consider bringing a friend or loved one for support, and to help you recall the information after your Geriatrician visit. Bring a notebook so you can take notes, copies of your medical records (dating back at least one year), a list of current medications, supplements and allergies to medications, your family history of disease, and a list of symptoms (and details about how long they last and how often they occur) to discuss with your Geriatrician.

When talking with your Geriatrician, be honest and don’t hold anything back, since your doctor can only help you with the information you give them. Understanding the full picture will give your Geriatrician more to work with and help them provide you with the best care.

Being a “good patient” isn’t just about listening to your Geriatrician. It’s about engaging in your health together to ensure you receive a high quality of care, which is called practicing patient autonomy. It’s important to be honest with your Geriatrician, and hide nothing, even if it’s embarrassing. You should also speak up and voice your concerns, and listen and ask questions of your Geriatrician. You may also consider doing your own research on your condition and talking to other patients before or after speaking with your Geriatrician.

A few topics you may wish to ask your Geriatrician about include: diagnosis details, symptom management, medical care, second opinions from other Geriatricians, whether you should see a specialist near you other than your Geriatrician, treatment plans, side effects, and expectations for follow-up appointments with your Geriatrician.

Depending on your symptoms,  a Geriatrician near you may be able to provide a different point of view on your health. You can also explore your symptoms and bring the results with you to your Geriatrician visit for discussion.

Alzheimer's Disease
Bladder Cancer
Breast Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Dementia
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D)
Hearing Loss
Heart Failure
Urinary Incontinence
Insomnia
Lung Cancer
Osteoarthritis
Osteoporosis
Prostate Cancer
Stomach Cancer
Vertigo

You should always contact your Geriatrician’s office to make sure they take your health insurance. Every Geriatrician has different arrangements with insurance providers. The most commonly accepted insurance may not be the same as everywhere, but some of the largest insurance providers are: Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield, Centene, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, HCSC (Health Care Service Corporation), CVS Health/Aetna, Kaiser Permanente, Molina Healthcare, and Cigna.

Despite our increasingly connected world, there are times when you need to see your Geriatrician in person. For Geriatricians, this study concluded that people typically only travel about 18 minutes. So, a good rule of thumb is to select a primary care physician that is located near you, somewhere between 15-30 minutes away. For more specialized care, you may need to travel considerably further, but look for specialists within 45 minutes of your home if possible.

In recent years, many Geriatricians  have also adopted telehealth, also commonly called telemedicine, which is the use of digital technology to provide or supplement patient care. Telehealth can help reduce the burden of physical travel to your Geriatrician. You might wish to consider contacting your Geriatrician’s office to learn about the telehealth options they offer, as well as your insurance provider.