Logo

Geriatric Medicine

Geriatric Medicine services offered in Queens, Maspeth, Lower Manhattan, New York, Brooklyn and Flushing, NY

Older people often face increasing problems with their health that require specialized care.  At LocalMD offices in Queens, New York City, Flushing, and Brooklyn, NY the team offers high-quality geriatric medicine services to everyone affected by problems caused by aging and experienced by the senior population. From osteoporosis and osteoarthritis to dementia and heart disease, you can be sure that you’ll receive excellent care. Call LocalMD to schedule an appointment or request a geriatric medicine consultation by completing the online form today.

What is geriatric medicine?

Geriatric medicine caters to older people’s health care needs. There’s no specific age when geriatric medicine becomes appropriate because some people have multiple health problems and frailties in their early sixties, while others are fit and well in their eighties.

For most people, though, around age 65-70 is when common older age health problems start to become a significant issue. The caring doctors and nurse practitioners at LocalMD offer expert geriatric medicine to anyone who needs it in later life.

What conditions does geriatric medicine treat?

Geriatric medicine services care for all your health problems as you age, including chronic diseases you might have lived with for years, like type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or eczema. However, some conditions are more common in old age, including:

  • Many forms of cancer
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-causing illnesses
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis makes your bones lose density, so they become weak and brittle. Fractures are common in older people with osteoporosis because their bones can break under minimal stress.

Many older people suffer falls as they become less steady on their feet. These can break bones easily and cause vertebral compression fractures in the upper spine.

What services does geriatric medicine provide?

Some of the comprehensive geriatric medicine services available at LocalMD include the following:

Wellness checks

A wellness check is a routine exam where your provider looks for any signs of health problems developing. They check all your vital signs and give you a physical exam so you can receive any treatment needed at the earliest stage of the disease.

Preventive medicine

Preventive medicine aims to stop you from getting sick. It includes diet and exercise advice, regular immunizations against flu, COVID-19, and pneumonia, and help losing weight, quitting smoking, or reducing your alcohol intake.

Screenings

Screenings for certain cancers, hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, dementia, and other conditions are vital preventive medicine measures as you age. Your LocalMD provider will advise you which screenings you need.

Mental health support

Depression, anxiety, and social isolation are all more common in later life.

Fall prevention

Your provider can help you avoid fall injuries by assessing your balance and offering advice on aids you can use, like handrails, bath seats, and other equipment.

Call LocalMD for more information on their geriatric medicine services, or schedule a consultation online today.