Geriatricians, PCPs are both options.
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My spouse and I are relocating to be closer to family and will need to find a new primary care provider. We are both in our late 70s and interested in getting a geriatrician to oversee our health care. Any suggestions for finding someone?
Choosing a geriatrician as your primary care provider (PCP) in your 70s can be beneficial, especially if you experience age-related health problems. But if you are in good health, a PCP with an age-friendly philosophy may be all you need. Here is what you should know.
Who Needs a Geriatrician? Geriatricians are PCPs who have additional specialized training in treating older patients. Those who can typically benefit the most from seeing a geriatrician are seniors 75 and older with multiple health- and age-related concerns such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, incontinence, osteoporosis, cognitive decline, frailty, depression or trouble with balance.
Geriatricians are also highly skilled at addressing medication-related issues. Many seniors take multiple medications at the same time for various health conditions, and because aging bodies often absorb and metabolize drugs differently than younger adults, unique side effects and drug interactions are not uncommon. A geriatrician will evaluate and monitor your medications to be sure they are not affecting you in a harmful way.
Geriatricians can also help patients and their families in assessing long-term-care needs, like how long they can remain in their own homes safely without assistance and what type of services may be necessary when they do need extra help. Some geriatric practices also offer care coordination or social work support, which can be especially helpful for long-term planning.
Unfortunately, there is a shortage of geriatricians in the United States, which may make it difficult to find one. To help you locate one in your new area, use Medicare’s online find-and-compare search tool. Go to medicare.gov/care-compare, click on “Doctors & Clinicians” and type in your location, then type in “geriatric medicine” in the “Name or Keyword” box. You can also get this information by calling Medicare at 800-633-4227. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, contact your plan for a list of in-network geriatricians in your new area.
It is important to keep in mind that locating a geriatrician does not guarantee you will be accepted as a patient. Many doctors already have a full patient roster and do not accept any new ones. You will need to call each individual doctor’s office to find out. If a waitlist is available, ask to be added and request recommendations for other age-friendly providers in the meantime.
Age-Friendly PCPs If you and your spouse are in relatively good health or if you are unable to find a geriatrician in your new area, a PCP who practices age-friendly care would also be a viable choice.
To search for new PCPs, use the previously described Medicare tools. Once you locate a few, call their office and ask if they are accepting new patients and if they practice the 4Ms of age-friendly care, which include What Matters (your goals and priorities), Medication safety and appropriateness, Mentation (cognition and mood), and Mobility (ways to keep you moving). If you find it hard to get into a new practice, you might even consider looking for a geriatric nurse practitioner or advanced practice registered nurse to serve as your PCP.
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