2 minute read
Dr. Amita Pai
By Lisa Howard
Wise Words For Aging
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AGING IS INEVITABLE. SO IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF BODILY WEAR AND TEAR, ESPECIALLY ON OUR JOINTS. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT CHANGING HABITS AND BEHAVIORS CAN GO A LONG WAY.
“The goal with our geriatric program has always been to make it easier for seniors to live independently in their own homes for as long as pos-sible,” says Dr. Amita Pai, Medical Director of the Geriatric Evalu-ation Clinic. The clinic was previously housed within the Beaumont medical complex, but in 2012 it moved to its current standalone location on 12 Mile.
While the senior population has a wide range of concerns and questions, Dr. Pai sees three main issues affecting them: managing multiple medications, avoiding falls, and dealing with challenges related to dementia.
Sometimes the three can overlap – for example, mismanaging medica-tions can cause dizziness that could make a fall more likely or lead to impaired cognition. Dr. Pai and her staff always review all prescription medications, OTC medicines and supple-ments with each patient to make sure that everything on the list is necessary and to minimize the list as much as possible.
IT’S EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE PATIENTS about the need to stay hydrated. “As we age, the hunger and thirst centers in the brain are not as sharp. If you wait to only drink when you’re thirsty, you’ll be at risk of dehydration,” Dr. Pai explains. “Be sure to drink water throughout the day to prevent falls and maintain cognition.” Another way to improve out-comes across the board is to exercise regularly. Even gentle forms of balance, strength and aerobic training help maintain independence.
Dr. Pai also advocates for early diagnosis of dementia to help seniors stay independent. The clinic has an on-site social worker who can connect families with community resources and keep their loved ones safely at home for as long as possible. Dr. Pai also makes sure that the needs of the caregiver – in her words, “the patient behind the curtain” – are consider-ed. Seeing the whole picture enables her to make things as easy as possible for her patients, and that’s her ultimate goal.
