Geriatric Care Clinic in Carrboro, NC

Primary medical care is important for patients of all ages, but particularly for seniors. In many cases, elderly patients are experiencing at least one chronic medical condition that requires ongoing treatment and consistent management. Chronic conditions that can commonly affect elderly people include diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and arthritis. By having regular, consistent, and ongoing care through a Geriatric care physician, it has been shown that people experience a higher quality of life and an improvement in illness prevention. 

The Geriatric care physician will oversee their patient’s complete medical care, even if the patient gets referred to a specialist at some point for additional or further treatment. Patients’ records are continuously updated so that all care providers have all of the necessary information regarding existing medical conditions, current medications, medical history, and emergency contact information so that treatment plans can be aligned to not conflict with other plans. Geriatric care physicians will take a preventative approachto the health of their patients as well, which is especially important as they get older, to catch the early onset symptoms of any serious illnesses or diseases.

Geriatric doctors are doctors who have chosen to focus their medical practice on the needs and care of aging adults who will typically have complex medical issues requiring ongoing treatment and management. The treatment of these patients can often include working with their patient’s caregivers and family to ensure the patient is receiving the care and treatment they need to maintain their quality of life and as much functionality with their body as possible. In most cases, patients under the care of a geriatric doctor have been diagnosed with at least one chronic health issue or disease that requires regular monitoring and treatment. 

Conditions that geriatric doctors treat can include balance and mobility problems that can lead to falls, dementia, incontinence, depression, and cardiovascular disease, among others. Geriatric doctors are specially trained on the complex issues that can affect their aging patients, as well as the best treatments to allow their patients to maintain as much of their freedom and independence as possible with the support of additional practitioners such as therapists, nurses, social workers and members of their family. 

Everyone should have a Geriatric care physician for their day-to-day health care needs, as well as preventative screenings and regular physical exams. This will also be the doctor people go to as their first point of contact when they become sick or have medical concerns. The same goes for elderly patients. As they get older, seniors will transition their ongoing medical care from a primary care physician to a geriatric doctor. In some cases, this can be the same doctor, provided they have the training and experience needed to provide the sometimes complex medical care that elderly patients can require. 

Choosing when to see a geriatric doctor can be dependent on age or the patient’s current medical conditions. While patients can start seeing a geriatric doctor at the age of 65, they may not need the specialized care that a geriatrician offers until well into their 70’s or 80’s. Carrboro Family Medicine Center offers primary care to patients of all ages, as well as geriatric care to our older patient population so that patients can receive consistent medical care as they get older without having to switch clinics.

A geriatric assessment is more than just a physical exam of a patient to get an understanding of their physical health. Older patients can experience a wide range of medical conditions that can affect their physical health, as well as their mental, emotional, and behavioral health. During the geriatric assessment, the doctor will perform a series of tests to assess the patient’s physical health, cognition, mental health, functional ability, and socioenvironmental circumstances. The doctor will want to evaluate the patient’s vision, hearing, balance, nutrition, and urinary and fecal incontinence. They will also want to know about the patient’s functionality to ensure they have a high quality of life. This often requires a multidisciplinary approach, with support from other medical professionals, as well as the patient’s family. To consult our professionals, please contact us or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 610 Jones Ferry Rd Suite 102, Carrboro, NC 27510. We serve patients in Chapel Hill NC, Southern Village NC, Fearrington NC, Blands NC, and surrounding areas.