What Is a Geriatrician? And Should I Be Seeing One?

This type of doctor specializes in the unique health needs of older adults. But they can be difficult to find.

Your primary care physician (PCP) is your first stop when you're sick, worried about a new symptom or need a checkup. And this person changes over the years, just as you change.

As a kid, you had a pediatrician. As an adult, your regular doctor is probably an internist or family medicine doctor. These physicians have a wide knowledge of diseases and can treat many health concerns in adults of all ages. You may have been seeing the same PCP for years or even decades.

But as you age and your health needs change, could it be time to see a geriatrician? These medical doctors specialize in caring for older adults. Here's what you need to know and how to decide.

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What exactly does a geriatrician do?

A geriatrician is trained to evaluate, treat, and manage health conditions that come with age.

They often provide care for seniors in their 70s and beyond who have complex medical problems or multiple health conditions, according to the American Geriatrics Society (AGS).

A geriatrician's goal is to help you maintain a good quality of life and stay independent. This kind of doctor can be helpful for patients who:

• Have multiple conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. More than half of older adults have three or more medical problems at the same time, says the AGS.
• Manage many medications to treat these conditions
• Have age-related conditions such as dementia, incontinence, or osteoporosis
• Are frail, weak or have trouble doing daily activities. For example, they may have balance problems or find it difficult to climb stairs.

Geriatricians often work as a team with other professionals who are trained in geriatrics, such as nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists and social workers. They can work in private practice, hospitals, or long-term care facilities.

How is a geriatrician different from my primary care doctor?

After finishing their residency in internal or family medicine, these doctors get additional training in geriatric medicine. They learn how getting older affects the body and the mind-and how different age-related physical and emotional problems interact with each other. A geriatrician focuses on creating a personalized health plan for your needs.

That's why it might be a good idea to search for a geriatrician, especially if you have complicated health problems. "Ideally, when you turn 65 years old, you'd switch your care from a primary care physician to a geriatrician," says Ecler Jaqua, M.D . She's an associate professor of family and geriatric medicine at Loma Linda University in California.

But that might not be so easy to do. There's a shortage of geriatricians in the United States, which means it may be hard to find one you can see regularly.

Research shows that 30% of adults over 65 need care from a geriatrician, says the AGS. Yet just 2% of all primary care providers in the U.S. are geriatricians, according to the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. And there are not enough new doctors entering geriatrics to keep up with the demand.

Recommended reading: Does Your Doctor Practice Ageism?

If I switch to a geriatrician, does that mean I won’t see my primary care provider anymore?

That depends. If you can find a geriatrician to take over your care, they would become your PCP, says Dr. Jaqua. However, there are many instances where you’d keep your PCP.

In fact, since it can be difficult to find a geriatrician who accepts new patients, many people end up keeping their PCP as their main doctor. Let's say your PCP is unsure of how to handle a diagnosis or treatment. They might have you consult with a geriatrician on an "as needed" basis. But you'd continue your care under the umbrella of your PCP, says Dr. Jaqua.

In this way, a geriatrician becomes like another specialty doctor. Both approaches are correct, says Dr. Jaqua. "What you do depends on how many geriatricians are in your community."

A geriatrician, of course, won't be able to fully take over and be your "everything" doctor. You'd still see any specialists you need-such as an endocrinologist to treat your diabetes or a cardiologist to treat heart disease.

Recommended reading: 7 Steps to Getting a Second Opinion

How do I decide whether to stick with my PCP or try to find a geriatrician?

To figure out if you should look for a geriatrician, first consider how comfortable your PCP is taking care of older adults, says Dr. Jaqua. This is a question you can even ask your doctor directly. You could say: "I'm getting older. Do I need a geriatrician or is it okay to continue with you?"

Another way to evaluate your doctor? Ask them about health resources in your community that they recommend for your age group. If they see a lot of seniors in their practice, they should be able to suggest some options. If they can't, that may be a clue that they're not that in tune with older adult care.

Your PCP's response to these questions may inform your next step. If they say you can continue with them, then you can stay put if you'd like.

If your PCP recommends switching to a geriatrician, there are ways to search for one:

• Your PCP might refer you to a geriatrician that they work already with.
• You can ask for recommendations from a family member or friend who sees a geriatrician.
• If you have a Medicare Plan, such as Medicare Advantage, check with your plan to find geriatricians in your network.
• Check out the "Find a geriatrics healthcare professional" search at Healthinaging.org. All providers in their database are members of the American Geriatrics Society. And you can search by state.

But what if a geriatrician isn’t an option for you or there is a long wait for an appointment?

Another thing you can do is switch to a new PCP or family medicine doctor who has more experience treating seniors. At your first appointment, talk to your new provider to make sure they're a good fit.

It may take some time and effort. But it's worth getting a doctor on your side who knows what you're going through - and feels confident that they can help you age well.

Recommended reading: Do You Need a Health Care Proxy?

See our sources
Geriatrics background: American Geriatrics Society; Healtinaging.org
Medical training: American Geriatrics Society
Percent of adults who need geriatrician: American Geriatrics Society
Geriatrician shortage: National Center for Health Work Force Analysis

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