Geriatric medicine is the specialized care of aging adults aimed at promoting longevity, maintaining independence, preventing and treating diseases, and managing disability and frailty. Geriatricians focus on whole-person health through preventive care, chronic disease management, rehabilitation, and end-of-life planning. Rather than a fixed age threshold, geriatric care is based on a person’s medical needs, complexity, and vulnerability associated with aging.
Core Elements and Philosophy
The field is highly interdisciplinary: geriatricians work closely with primary doctors, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, and mental health professionals. Care is customized using the “5Ms” of geriatrics:
- Mind (cognition, dementia, depression, delirium)
- Mobility (function, falls, strength)
- Multicomplexity (multiple medical, social conditions)
- Medications (polypharmacy risks)
- Matters Most (patient values, goals of care)
Family involvement, ethical considerations, and respect for older adults’ preferences are foundations of geriatric practice.
Typical Challenges in Geriatrics
Medical complexity
- Coexisting chronic diseases: diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, arthritis, COPD, osteoporosis, kidney disorders.
- Risk of polypharmacy and side effects from multiple medications.
Cognitive and mental health
- Dementia (Alzheimer’s and other forms)
- Delirium
- Depression and anxiety in older age
- Supporting autonomy and decision-making
Functional decline and frailty
- Falls and balance disturbances
- Muscle weakness and sarcopenia
- Nutrition problems and weight loss
- Loss of functional and social independence
Social and community issues
- Navigating long-term care, assisted living, or home support
- Elder abuse, neglect, and advocacy
- Planning for end-of-life, advanced directives, palliative and hospice care
Key Services and Interventions
- Comprehensive geriatric assessment: evaluates medical, functional, cognitive, psychosocial, and environmental domains.
- Health promotion: exercise, fall prevention, vaccination, nutrition counseling.
- Chronic disease management: multimodal care for problems like hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, arthritis.
- Medication review: regular assessment for efficacy and side effects.
- Rehabilitation and recovery services after hospitalization, injury, or surgery.
- Support for caregivers and assistance navigating social resources.
Geriatricians employ a holistic, patient-centered approach focused on helping older adults maintain their abilities, independence, and dignity.
Modern Advances in Geriatrics
Recent innovations include telemedicine visits for the homebound, multidisciplinary team clinics, rapid assessment programs for falls and frailty, and personalized interventions based on genetics or biomarkers. Preventive geriatrics emphasizes early detection, community-based support, and integration of technology to track and tailor interventions for longevity and life quality.
Liv Hospital Geriatrics Services
Liv Hospital offers advanced geriatric care across acute, long-term, and community settings. Services include:
- Multidisciplinary geriatric assessment
- Memory and cognition clinics
- Falls and mobility management
- Chronic disease and medication review
- Rehabilitation and palliative care services
- Ethical guidance and support for community resource navigation
Patients and families can access expert consultation and holistic care at Liv Hospital’s homepage and Geriatrics Clinic.