GERIATRICS SERVICES

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Geriatric Services Q & A

What are geriatric services?

Seniors and older adults over 65 years of age have unique healthcare needs and require special services and treatments. Geriatric services include:

• Outpatient primary and urgent care

• Assessment of gait and risk of falls

• Memory and behavior disorders including Alzheimer's

• Incontinence needs

• Nutrition

• Management for chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes

The team of doctors at HELLOMED specializes in providing preventive and treatment services for the elderly to help them lead a longer and healthier life.

What screening exams are offered to seniors?

As part an annual wellness visit, the dedicated staff at HELLOMED provides the following screening exams to elderly patients:

• Assessing cognitive impairment

• Balance problems

• Driving abilities

• Chronic disease screening

Why should seniors screen for cognitive impairment?

It’s important to screen for cognitive impairment to know the cause of dementia and memory loss. Sometimes, it may be due to metabolic conditions, drugs, or depression and can be easily reversed. Early diagnosis of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease helps better prepare patients and their caregivers for the future.

It takes only 10 minutes or less to do the initial assessment. The team at HELLOMED is specially trained to provide cognitive screening for you or your loved one. Family members are also educated to recognize the early signs of dementia.

Why is it important to assess the risk of falls in the elderly?

Falls are the leading cause of disability in the senior population. A simple fall like slipping on the wet floor or tripping on a rug can cause a fracture, which may require lengthy hospital admission and lead to more serious disabilities like loss of mobility and the need for assisted living.

So, it’s important to assess the risk factors for falls for you or your loved one and take the right steps to prevent them. If you or your elderly family member is found at risk of falls, timely intervention and medical consultation can eliminate or decrease the risk. Sometimes, the increased risk of falls is due to minor reasons like medication side effects, and timely risk assessment can prevent lifelong disability.

The team at HELLOMED are specialists in geriatric medicine and offer fall screening and timely intervention to prevent falls.

What are the leading chronic diseases in the elderly?

Hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes are the leading chronic diseases in the senior community. These diseases require regular follow-up, medications, and lifestyle modifications to prevent their progression.

The dedicated physicians at HELLOMED will carefully examine your medical history to provide you or your loved one with personalized physicals and follow-ups to help manage these chronic conditions effectively.

For comprehensive primary and urgent care services for seniors, visit HELLOMED as a walk-in or call or click to schedule an appointment today.