Geriatric Medicine

Geriatric medicine is also known as geriatric care or elderly care.

It refers to a medical subspecialty that aims to meet the special needs of seniors or the elderly.

Aged bodies differ physiologically from those of younger adults, and as people age, various organ systems start to decline. People start exhibiting multiple combinations of diseases and symptoms depending on their prior health conditions and lifestyle choices.

Some geriatric conditions are:

Chronic, multiple or complex medical problems
Multiple medications and experiencing side effects
History of hip or vertebral (spine) fractures
Recurrent hospital admissions
Difficulty performing daily activities and more.

Ensuring that patients are given proper care during this time by helping them take care of their specific medical needs is an important part of geriatric medicine.

Geriatric medicine also focuses on the independence, functional capacities, and quality of life of the elderly because some conditions and disorders that are widespread in this age group, such as dementia, delirium and falls, call for specialised treatment as well as medical and hospice care.