A geriatrician is a medical specialist who focuses on the comprehensive care and management of the health needs of seniors, including assessment, treatment, and support for age-related conditions and complexities.
Tips & Links
Seniors often have multiple chronic health conditions that makes their care complex. Geriatricians are skilled in managing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, osteoporosis, and dementia, among others, with a focus on optimizing your quality of life.
Learn About
- The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC regulates the medical practice of physicians.
- Geriatricians often use a comprehensive geriatric assessment for those over 65 years of age who have had a sudden or significant change in their physical or cognitive health.
- Understand that a geriatric assessment includes a complete review of your medical history, physical examination, cognitive screening, assessment of activities of daily living, evaluation of your social support and living environment, medication review, and screening for common geriatric syndromes such as falls, incontinence, and malnutrition. From these findings, a plan of care can be developed.
- Know that Geriatricians are also often involved in palliative care and end-of-life care for seniors.
Things You Can Do
- Discuss your changing health needs with your physician or nurse practitioner.
- Know that you need a written referral to a Geriatrician or Geriatric Clinic.
- Keep a health calendar or symptom diary of all the changes you are noticing.
- Learn about and ask for a home safety assessment from your health authority.
- Know that a home safety assessment determines, based on your safety, assistance required, and income; what level of care the public system can provide as outlined by the Government of BC.
- Choose a health advocate to assist you when you are not feeling well or strong enough to complete daily tasks safely.
- Learn how to make your physician or healthcare visit more effective and productive from Healthlink BC.
- Know how to participate in your health care visits and record your health information or have your health advocate present to do this.
- Ask questions of all your health care providers and seek clarification on anything you do not understand.
Add your Geriatrician to your My Health Care & Business Professionals PDF tool found in My People. Include their contact information and any questions you have for them. Complete the Mywell Health fillable PDF tool called Changes in My Personal Needs found in My Place to Call Home and save all to your print and digital files.