Geriatric Care Management – Addressing the Health Challenges of the Elderly

Geriatric Care Management – Addressing the Health Challenges of the Elderly

Summary: Geriatric care services improve the health and wellbeing of the elderly and enable them to enjoy their life to the fullest.

Geriatric medical care covers the diagnosis and treatment of age-related conditions with the goal to enhance the health and wellbeing of the elderly. Effective geriatric care is available in leading multi-specialty healthcare and rehabilitation centers in Brooklyn, New York. Such compassionate and personalized care services for older people are critical to address the complex issues they face such as physical loss, mental impairment, and loss of independence.

As people grow older, they tend to be more vulnerable to physical as well as psychological illnesses. According to the National Council On Aging (NCOA), approximately 92% of older adults have at least one chronic disease such as heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis, and 77% have at least two. Diabetes affects 12.2 million Americans aged 60 and above or 23% of the older population. Up to 90% of Americans aged 55 and more are at risk for hypertension or high blood pressure. It also reported that women are more likely to develop hypertension than men. Reports about the mental health of older adults are also disturbing.

About one in four older adults experience some type of mental disorder including depression and anxiety disorders, and dementia. The other major challenges faced by the elderly are slipping and falling. As per the NCOA, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall in every 15 seconds. Falls are the leading cause of fractures, hospital admissions for trauma and brain injuries in geriatric patients.

In a reliable rehabilitation center in Brooklyn, specialists from various disciplines work as a team to improve the quality of life of older adults and help them maintain their independence for as long as possible.

Customized Healthcare Programs for the Elderly Senior care management comprises a comprehensive suite of services to address agerelated challenges: 

Pain Management Services – Various modalities are used to address pain due to disease

or

aging,

Transcutaneous

such

Electrical

as,

exercises,

Nerve

physical

Stimulation

therapy,

(TENS),

chiropractic

manual

care,

techniques

prolotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, surgically implanted electrotherapy devices,

administration of analgesics, NSAIDs, narcotic medications and muscle relaxants, and injections. 

Orthopedic Care – Orthopedic specialists provide treatment for wide range of conditions such as arthritis, fractures, back pain, knee pain, sprains and strains, and osteoporosis.



Rehabilitation Services – Physical therapy rehabilitation programs are designed to treat

variety

of

conditions

such

as

shoulder

pain,

arthritis,

inflammations,

fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, neck pain, low back pain and sciatica. A typical program for an older adult would include therapeutic activities and strength training exercises to restore range of motion and increase joint flexibility. 

Slip/fall prevention programs – A series of tests are conducted to identify the physical as well as environmental factors that put the person at the risk of falling.

Physical factors such as muscular strength, balance, walking speed, step length, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness are evaluated. Risk assessment would also include general health questions, testing of blood pressure and heart rate, balance test, walking test and knee and ankle strength test. Based on this evaluation, the physician will develop an appropriate program to address the patient’s specific mobility and gait problems.

Advanced Diagnostics In a professional Brooklyn geriatric care center, physicians, neurologists, orthopedists, physical therapists and pain management specialists use advanced modalities to identify and treat health disorders. MRI scanning provides optimal quality images of the brain, spinal cord and nerves, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Orthopedic or neurological examinations include muscle and range of motion testing using the latest devices. The use of such stateof-the-art techniques allows physicians to diagnose the patient’s condition and provide appropriate treatment at the right time.