In actual fact, the large majority of geriatricians are family medicine or internal medicine specialists whose practice has developed into special focus on care of the elderly. Formal additional training fellowships exist where already certified Family Physicians and Internists can become qualified with a Certificate of Additional Qualification in Geriatrics. In addition, many physicians gain valuable added experience and skill treating the elderly through spending years practicing in retirement communities, such as in Florida and Arizona.
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UCLA Health answeredAs you get older, changes associated with normal aging may interfere with your driving ability. Some obvious ones are impaired hearing, vision, memory and judgment. Other medical issues to consider include decreased flexibility, slower reflexes and less coordination, as well as medications that can cause sedation or confusion. -
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Dr. David C. Fiore, MD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family MedicineGeriatrics is the field of medicine focused on the care of elderly people. Doctors who are geriatricians are typically either internists or family physicians. To be a board-certified geriatrician a doctor must complete a one- or two-year fellowship focusing on geriatrics.
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AARP Driver Safety answeredThis answer is based on a publication and research conducted by The Hartford and MIT AgeLab:
Some high-risk older drivers will not respond to constructive conversation. You may have to consider disabling the car, filing down the keys or taking away the car. Some older drivers, however, find ways to work around these actions, such as calling a mechanic and having a disabled car repaired. Strategies, such as not renewing a driver’s license or canceling registration or insurance, alone may be ineffective. Remember, drivers may continue to drive without a driver’s license, car registration or insurance coverage.
If you have not yet done so, speak with the older driver’s doctor or schedule a comprehensive driving evaluation. Call your state licensing agency or consult the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Web site (www.iihs.org) to learn about testing in your state.
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UCLA Health answered
If the patient appears to have one or more geriatric syndromes -- complex conditions that typically involve multiple body systems -- referral to a geriatrician with special training in diagnosing and managing these syndromes may be indicated. Common geriatric syndromes include dementia, delirium, incontinence, sensory impairment, malnutrition, osteoporosis, social isolation, falls, immobility, pressure ulcers and problems caused by being on many interacting medications.
Many acute conditions present differently in older patients, Sonja Rosen, M.D., a geriatric specialist at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, notes, particularly if there are comorbidities. An older patient with an infection, for example, may not have a fever or an elevated white blood cell count. A patient who is cognitively impaired might seem only lethargic when he or she is experiencing a stroke or heart attack.
It is important for older patients to have a physician who looks at the big picture. “Sometimes a patient will go from one specialist to another, without one person who is monitoring everything,” Dr. Rosen says. “Someone has to be the quarterback, helping to decide what is necessary and making sure all aspects of the patient’s health and well-being are addressed in a coordinated way.”