Geriatric Services

Geriatric Medicine in New Jersey at Summit Health provides exceptional elder care to prevent, diagnose, and treat the health problems and special needs of older adults.

Doctors who specialize in geriatrics are called geriatricians. They treat a wide variety of diseases and conditions as well as the social issues and functional decline that the elderly often experience. Geriatric doctors are board certified in family medicine or internal medicine, after which they complete a fellowship in geriatric medicine.

The goal in geriatrics medicine is to improve the elderly patient’s ability to function and improve the quality of life of the patient, family, and caregivers.

Our Geriatricians Participate in Elderly Care Management

Our physicians do not simply diagnose and treat diseases in the elderly. They participate in all aspects of care to ensure the physical and emotional well-being of each patient.

For each elderly patient, our geriatricians:

• Examine the patient’s medical history to determine what previous illnesses or conditions may be affecting current health
• Assess the patient’s ability to live independently and perform daily living activities
• Determine if multiple medications are causing symptoms
• Confirm that the patient has the necessary social support from family, friends, and/or the community
• Recommend changes to the patient’s current living conditions to ensure a safe environment
• Assist the family/caregivers in managing the challenges of the patient’s needs
• Inquire about assisted living or nursing facilities if necessary

A Geriatrics Team for Comprehensive Care

Our eldercare geriatricians lead a team of geriatric specialists including:

• Nurses
• Pharmacists
• Social workers and geriatric care managers
• Physical therapists and occupational therapists
• Nutritionists
• Elder care psychologists who specialize in depression
• Neurologists who specialize in dementia in the elderly
• Urologists for incontinence and urinary track infection diagnoses and treatment
• Ear specialists to diagnose and treat hearing and balance problems

Based on an overview of the patient’s history and records, the geriatrician consults with all other specialists to determine an overall care plan.

While most geriatric patients are age 75 years or older, a patient may require or benefit from elderly care if he or she is forgetful or cannot perform normal daily activities without assistance.