Geriatricians

What Are Geriatricians & Do I Need One?

When looking for Senior Living, be sure to ask about the community’s medical staff or partnerships with local physicians. Orchard at Brookhaven is currently forming partnerships with physicians in the Atlanta area to ensure we can provide resources and affiliate providers for our residents.

Onsite Medical Providers

Having a trusted onsite medical provider available at an assisted living adds to the collaboration of care and can simplify appointment coordination for families.

Orchard at Brookhaven will have two primary care affiliate partners. Agape Chronic Care, a geriatric mobile physicians’ practice serving Metro Atlanta, and also Whole Family Medicine, a functional medical practice whose private practice office is located in Decatur. Orchard has also partnered with Geriatric Psychiatry practice, Healthcare for Seniors and will be able to provide onsite mental health assessments for residents who need them.

What Is Geriatric Medicine

If you are finding that it is time to consider relocating to Senior Living in Atlanta, it may also be time to look into a Geriatric Physician. Medical care becomes more complex as you age as many people are living with more than one medical condition. Geriatric Medicine is a specialty that focuses on medical issues and diseases more common when aging aging.

A Geriatrician most often treats people over the age of 60 who are either healthy or have multiple medical issues. They specialize in how medical conditions impact one another and pay close attention to how each medication interacts with others and how both medical conditions and medications uniquely affect someone as they age.

When To Consider A Geriatrician

If you are over the age of 60 and have one or more of the following you may want to consider the value of a Geriatrician.

  • Arthritis
  • Cancer
  • Dementia
  • Orthopedic or old injuries
  • Thyroid disorder
  • Osteoporosis
  • Allergies
  • Diabetes
  • High Blood pressure
  • Pain
  • Sleep problems

The above conditions can complicate the aging process because they create added stress to the body and usually involve a variety of medications. As challenges arise, it will be important to find a way for your physicians to communicate with one another and for someone to look at the whole picture of your wellness. A Geriatrician may be the professional to help.

Geriatrician Specialties

A Geriatrician is a specialist in the following areas:

  • Knowledge about normal changes in the body over the age of 60
  • How differing medical conditions impact one another
  • How the effects of medication change with age and interact with one another

A Geriatrician can serve as the medical team leader. Orchard at Brookhaven’s affiliate partners are not just a resident’s doctor and specialist, but in times when other specialists are needed, they also manage coordination of care to ensure a more personalized team approach.

Most of the time, a general internist or family physician can serve as primary care provider, especially if he or she is experienced in dealing with older people. But if you are especially frail or have complicated medical problems, you might want to switch to a geriatrician. Whomever you choose as a physician, make sure that they are committed to promoting health and wellness throughout the aging process.

Find A Geriatrician

Below are some local organizations to help you start find a Geriatrician near you.

Orchard at Brookhaven is also here to help! Contact us if you have further questions about Geriatricians in metro Atlanta, Decatur, Tucker, Norcross, Sandy Springs, Roswell, or Brookhaven and learn more about other onsite programs and if our luxury senior living is a good choice for you.