Geriatrician vs. General Practitioner for Seniors

My doctors office has both, the geriatrician does all the basic health checkups while the doctors handle appointments related to health concerns.

I was a bit put off when I was told the geriatrician would be handling my checkups but have come around to the idea. I think it probably frees the doctor up some for patients that need a medical diagnoses and I have found the geriatrician to be very intelligent toward senior related issues.
 

C50 said:
My doctors office has both, the geriatrician does all the basic health checkups while the doctors handle appointments related to health concerns.

I was a bit put off when I was told the geriatrician would be handling my checkups but have come around to the idea. I think it probably frees the doctor up some for patients that need a medical diagnoses and I have found the geriatrician to be very intelligent toward senior related issues.
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Are you saying your geriatrician isn't an MD? I thought they were an MD specialty, like family practice or pediatrics.
 
Flarbalard turns out I had my titles mixed up, the correct title is Gerontolgist, and the one at my doctors office is an APRN, not an M.D.

"Gerontologist study the mental, physical, and social changes in the aging population. They can work in education, research, or direct medical services. Because of the multidisciplinary approach to gerontology, professionals from numerous fields consider themselves gerontologists."
 
Iā€™d think a doctor specializing in older folks would be better but I donā€™t actually know. Itā€™s just a guess. I ā€˜thinkā€™ Someone specializing in old folks might know things a regular family doctor might not.

What do you think Deb?
 
I think it'd be great to have a gerontologist but there aren't any within many miles of here; in fact, we're getting low on any kind of medical professional and the few we do have, it takes months to get an appointment (if they're even taking new patients).
 
A fifty mile round trip is excessive.
Our last doctor was a licensed pill pusher.
He would ask all kinds of questions to see if thereā€™s any extra pill he could prescribe. He was such a drug pusher that he had part of his license revoked.

Maybe you could use both of them and then decide. Good luck either way.
 
debodun said:
I was thinking of seeing a gerontologist since my PCP is is a dismissive pill pusher, but like officerripley mentioned, not any that are conveniently located around here. The closest to me would necessitate an almost 50 mile round trip.
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Unfortunately your term of "dismissive pill pusher" might apply to so many of them.
 
As long as the doctor is familiar with and understands the body it shouldn't matter. Problem even doctors sometimes blame old age when it's an injury or illness common in seniors. Also keep in mind seniors probably see doctors more than younger people so there might be more data on seniors but doesn't necessarily means it's an issue just affecting seniors.

I read an article one time about hips, surgery , replacement etc and it said joints/the hip just don't wear out from old age it's wear and tear, misuse and lack of strength and flexibility excercise over time. In other words maybe a greater understanding of how things should work and what could c affect them besides genes and time.

Many doctors need to become better trouble shooters and mechanics that fix things.
 

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