Our bodies change over time, and our healthcare needs to adapt with us. Geriatrics is the medical specialty focused on the high-quality, person-centered care we all need as we age. This care aims to improve health, independence and quality of life for older people.
Different people may benefit from geriatrics expertise at different times. There’s no hard-and- fast rule, but it’s generally best to start working with a geriatrician when:
- An older person’s condition causes considerable impairment or frailty. This tends to happen after age 75 or when someone starts managing a number of health conditions.
An older person’s family, friends or other caregivers start feeling considerable stress related to care.
Older adults or their caregivers start having trouble following complex treatment instructions or working with many different healthcare professionals for multiple health needs.
To locate a geriatrician in your area, visit
http://www.healthinaging.org/find-a-geriatrics-healthcare-professional
Source: American Geriatrics Society
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