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Geriatric Care: What It Entails and What You Need to Know

You may have encountered the term geriatric care when aiding an elderly parent with their healthcare needs and living arrangement. But what precisely is geriatric care, and is it essential for the well-being of your loved one?

Geriatric providers care for the elderly, most of whom are 65 and older. The specialization encompasses a wide range of care management and specialist medical treatment services. Many seniors today prefer to age at home rather than in a nursing home or assisted-living facility.

However, being at home does not eliminate the need for support, which is where home care comes into play. Here’s all you need to know about geriatric home care Bethesda, MD, including the many categories and what to expect from this sort of care.

When do you need geriatric care?

When it comes to geriatric care, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all situation. The specialization focuses on adults aged 65 and up, albeit one does not always require geriatric care on their 65th birthday. Some may need assistance early on, but others may not require assistance until they are well into their 80s.

Almost every aging adult will experience diminished physical and mental abilities like poor eyesight, decreased hearing abilities, worsening coordination, dwindling strength, memory problems, and other neurological impairments. Age-related health issues might impair a person’s capacity to execute fundamental self-care duties.

These self-care duties are referred to as activities of daily living in the healthcare community (or ADLs). Most ADLs involve personal hygiene tasks like washing, grooming, clothing, or eating tasks like preparing food, obtaining water, and self-feeding. ADLs can also include taking prescriptions, doing housework, communicating, and paying bills. When seniors cannot do their everyday activities, they usually require outside assistance.

In addition to struggling to fulfill their own needs, many older adults require care for chronic diseases, injuries, and other medical concerns. Some people require care only momentarily after surgery or illness, while others require continual care. An older person can begin geriatric care at any point when needed.

Geriatric medicine vs. geriatric care management

Geriatric care is divided into two categories: geriatric medicine and geriatric care management. They collaborate to achieve the greatest potential health outcomes for patients.

Geriatric medicine (geriatrics) focuses on preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and disabilities in the elderly. This type of geriatric care monitors and treats patients for various age-related medical issues, including dementia, Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, strokes, incontinence, fall injuries, and polypharmacy (potentially dangerous interactions between various medications).

On the other hand, geriatric care management focuses on coordinating and arranging care for an aging adult with functional limitations or a specific medical condition. Aside from assisting them in meeting their healthcare needs, the goal is to increase the older person’s quality of life while helping them maintain their independence.

Geriatric care managers like Capital City Nurses are informed about the pricing and availability of various health services and assist elders and their families in navigating the intricacies of arranging for care. Care managers may also include emotional support for aging folks and their loved ones as they come to grips with the necessity to employ help.