About Geriatrics

What is a geriatrician?

Geriatricians are specialist medical doctors who focus on the health of older adults over 65. Geriatricians are trained by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians through the Geriatric Medicine Fellowship.

Some reasons to see a geriatrician include:

  • Cognitive or behavioural changes

  • Mood changes

  • Reduced mobility or balance

  • Falls or fractures

  • Medication review

  • Continence problems

  • Difficulty with activities of daily living (shopping, driving, cooking, cleaning, etc.)

  • Speech, swallowing or nutrition issues

  • Recurrent hospitalisations

How can a geriatrician help me?

Geriatricians listen to your questions and spend time getting into what really matters to you with your health. They provide a big-picture medical perspective and can work together with you and your other health practitioners, and are particularly useful if there are multiple issues. They diagnose and treat cognitive disorders, manage falls and balance problems and review medications.

Using a holistic approach, they create personalised, practical care plans for you and your support networks. During your follow-up appointment, your geriatrician will update the plan to suit you. 

What happens during a consultation?

A consultation with a geriatrician is comprehensive, meaning it doesn't only look at medical issues, it aims to identify what matters most to you.

The discussion aims to is to listen to the your symptoms, identify the causes and establish a plan for investigations and treatments tailored to your priorities.

History Taking

The doctor will ask you what issues are important to you and discuss how to address them. These usually cover:

  • Symptoms: memory or mood changes, falls and mobility, when they started, and what makes them better or worse.

  • Medical background: including medications and family history

  • Lifestyle factors: sleep, alcohol, exercise and daily routine

Examination

Dr Bennett will look for physical signs of medical conditions. Depending on your symptoms, she may take a blood pressure, listen to your heart and lungs, observe your gait and check your muscle function and reflexes.

Validated tools for cognition may also be performed.

Clinical Impression

Dr Bennett will formulate an initial impression with several possible diagnoses and discuss them with you to the level of detail that you would like. You are encouraged to ask questions during the consultation.

Further Investigations

Additional tests may be requested with your consent. These may include:

  • Blood tests e.g. vitamin D, B12, Folate, Iron studies, Thyroid function, Electrolytes, Kidney and Liver function, Full Blood Count.

  • Brain Scans (CT, MRI or PET)

  • X-rays

Management plan

Ultimately, the geriatrician’s role extends beyond diagnosis to establish a tailored strategy to address your needs. Dr Bennett will communicate this plan with you and your GP.

Follow up

A review appointment is key to review the results, the diagnosis and management, and adapt the plan according to what works for you.