Geriatric Care in Madison, AL

The field of healthcare is broken up into many categories with some doctors specializing in orthopedics and others in dermatology or cardiology. There is in fact another specialty that exists called geriatrics, which is used to describe physicians who focus on treating patients over the age of 60.

If you would like to meet with a geriatrics specialist, contact Madison Medical Associates to schedule a consultation and determine how you or a loved one can lead a healthier more fulfilling lifestyle. Our providers will take the time to discuss any changes in your health and help you be the healthiest version of yourself. To schedule your geriatrics consultation at our medical center in Madison, AL, please call (256) 325-1160 today.

What is Included in the Geriatrics Specialty?

Geriatricians take special care to treat patients of a mature age, most of whom are dealing with multiple medical conditions at the same time. These different conditions can often be complex to treat all at once, which is why the expertise of a geriatrician can be so useful.

It is the job of a geriatric specialist to determine how a patient’s medical conditions will impact one another, how treatment methods like medications can be used to alleviate these conditions, and how these medications may interact with each other or influence other health conditions.

Due to the many possible combinations of medical conditions and treatments that any single patient could possibly have, each new case a geriatrician encounters is quite unique. This typically creates a close relationship between the patient and their doctor, as frequent communication is necessary to keep up with the patient’s current health issues and overall wellbeing.

Common Issues of Geriatric Patients

The list of potential health conditions that a geriatric patient can have is endless, but the most prevalent health problems in seniors are:

• Arthritis and/or osteoporosis
• Shingles
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Obesity
• Depression
• Respiratory Diseases such as COPD, asthma, or emphysema
• Cancer

What Makes Geriatrics a Unique Medical Specialty?

Many people are unaware of the fact that the geriatrics medical specialty even exists since many patients merely continue going to their primary care physician or to an internal medicine specialist for their healthcare needs. While these types of physicians are both good choices, neither of them have as much experience or training with geriatric patients as a geriatrician.

Before a doctor can become board certified in geriatrics, they typically practice in family medicine or internal medicine for many years. The distinct difference between these two specialties and geriatrics lies in the complex nature of health conditions for those over the age of 60. Only a geriatrician is specifically qualified to treat this age group.