Today, more than 55 million Americans are over 65. The US has an older population than it has ever had. Sadly, the physician population has not grown to meet the needs of older Americans reports Pamela Paul for The New York Times.
How many board-certified geriatricians are there in the US? Just over 7,000. Only one for every 10,000 older adults. The number has shrunk more than 25 percent in the last 25 years.
Older adults with multiple chronic conditions can fare much better with treatment from a geriatrician. Much like with children, taking care of older adults is different from taking care of working people. As we age, our brains and bodies change.
While there are a range of doctors who treat older adults, many of them have never received appropriate training to do so. That training can be invaluable. We have less muscle mass, smaller kidneys and weaker immunological systems by the time we are 65.
When it comes to geriatric care, physicians should be looking at both the prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs you take, your cognition, your movement and what you most care about. Geriatricians must consider which of a patient’s medical needs are most important. Patients’ life desires should rank high, be it going on vacation or having better balance. Physicians need to keep in mind that patients might not be able to follow a treatment plan.
Geriatricians work to help promote as good health as possible. For example, my dad’s geriatrician got my dad off of a few of the prescription drugs he was taking after testing their efficacy over a several month period and finding that they were not benefiting him. His geriatrician also kept a doctor who saw my dad in the emergency room from prescribing him a new and costly medication he did not need. And, that’s not all.
My dad’s geriatrician arranged for a nurse to visit him every two weeks to check his blood because he was on a blood thinner. She prescribed physical therapy for him because he was shuffling his feet when he walked and she worried about his risk of falling. After talking to him and me about his social network, she thought it would be helpful if he had more social interactions. So, she arranged for the hospital social worker to see him and help him find a program that engaged him socially.
Why aren’t more physicians becoming geriatricians? It’s a fulfilling profession. But, it’s not glamorous. It requires spending more time with patients. It’s challenging because patients are ultimately not going to improve a lot. It requires an extra year of training over primary care. And, the pay is relatively low, averaging about $258,000 a year.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Six reasons you need a primary care doctor in this age of specialization
- Five tips for talking to the people you love about their health
- Four questions to ask yourself about your primary care doctor
- How to prepare for your doctor’s visit
- Six tips for helping your loved one change unhealthy behaviors
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