Ever heard of a geriatric assessment? If you have aging parents treated by several doctors, none of whom talk to each other; if one of your parents has fallen or has developed a fear of falling; or if you’re starting to notice a change in your parent’s behavior or symptoms such as dizziness, nausea or confusion, symptoms that could be side effects of the various medications they take, a geriatric assessment may be helpful, even vital.
A geriatric assessment is performed by geriatric specialists who’ve studied the effects of aging and have a better understanding of the health challenges facing seniors. This assessment often begins with a comprehensive physical exam by a geriatrician, a geriatric social worker and a nurse. Everything is evaluated, physical and mental health, economic and legal issues, the environment where the senior lives, the senior’s functional status, including the ability to think and move around and his or her social activities and support. Based on this information, the team puts together a comprehensive plan of care.
Why can’t your parents’ doctors do this? Many see your parents for a specific problem, so they don’t get a complete picture of what’s going on. Many don’t have the time or staff to allot to this kind of comprehensive workup.
Do health plans cover these assessments? Sometimes. However, you may have to go out of the area to find a geriatric care manager, since there aren’t many locally.
So why consider it? Because this team of experts may be able to provide the insight, knowledge and resources needed to answer questions and resolve problems in a very short period of time, which could save money, frustration and even lives.
The physician referral hotline at Henry Mayo Memorial Hospital, 661-253-8888, can help you find a geriatrician and there are geriatric care managers listed on the internet at www.findacaremanager.org .
For more information, please call Home Instead Senior Care at 661-254-8701.