Having a Geriatric Care Evaluation at Cleveland Clinic
Body changes are natural as you age. From your 50s through at least your 80s — even to 100 and older — you may start to lose muscle mass, react differently to medications and feel off balance sometimes. But there are other changes that may happen, too. Our geriatric care providers know how to recognize even the subtlest shifts.
What to expect during your evaluation
A geriatric care evaluation is the first step in keeping an eye on your health as you get older. These evaluations can help you and your healthcare providers benchmark changes that have started and spot new ones that appear down the road. The results help our team build a personalized care plan focusing on preventive health and maintenance — and ways to keep you moving and thriving.
The typical evaluation takes about an hour and a half. Your provider will ask questions about your health history, any changes you may have noticed and what you hope to get out of your care plan. They’ll also do tests like:
We’ll talk about medications you take and what you may need in the future. All of this paves the way for following a regular, individualized care plan with our team.
Meet Our Geriatric Care Team
Your geriatrician will lead your care team, which may include other skilled providers depending on your needs. This might mean meeting with physician assistants, nurse practitioners and geriatric pharmacists. Or maybe you’ll work with occupational therapists, physical therapists, cardiologists or oncologists.
Other experts on your team may include:
0 Providers Who Offer Geriatric Care
Locations
Our healthcare providers see geriatric patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio.
Getting Regular Geriatric Care at Cleveland Clinic
Research shows keeping up with regular checkups may contribute to better overall well-being. These visits can also help our team catch and treat any new health conditions quickly. We want to be sure your care meets your health and lifestyle goals, so these appointments focus on what matters most to you.
What to expect at your geriatric care appointment
Your new patient geriatric care visits at Cleveland Clinic typically last about 90 minutes. During that time, your provider will talk with you about how you’re feeling and if you’re having any problems. They’ll go over the medications you’re taking. And they’ll make sure you get any of your vaccines you might need, including flu, pneumonia and COVID-19.
We may also talk about “deprescribing.” This means reducing the number of medications you’re taking or stopping medications that may be potentially harmful or not right for your age. You provider may take a simple saliva sample from inside your mouth, which can help determine which medications are right for you. This analysis is guided by pharmacogenomics, a field of medicine that investigates how your genetic makeup may affect how your body processes certain medications.
You and your provider may also talk about what you eat and drink and how often you exercise. And these appointments are a great time to ask about tips for staying active, keeping your bones healthy and staying safe at home.
Our team will also do the same tests every time you have a new evaluation. This helps us see if anything has changed. If we notice any health conditions that may require specialized care, we’ll refer you to the right providers to meet your needs.
Taking the Next Step
Whether you’re making your first geriatric care appointment or have been seeing our team for years, we’re with you every step of the way. It’s your healthcare journey. That’s why we always focus on what matters most to you. At Cleveland Clinic, your life and health goals are important to us. We want you to stay healthy, active and thriving. No matter your age or stage of life.
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