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Geriatric Medicine

Geriatrics is a specialty that focuses on the medical needs of the elderly. Much like paediatrics for children, the elderly require specialised care due to their different physiological needs. Geriatric care is recommended for those above age 65, and especially above 75. Depending on their medical needs, it can start as early as age 50. As of 2020, the elderly (65+ years) made up 7.2% of the population, and this is projected to reach 14.5% by 2040. Therefore, geriatrics is becoming an increasingly important medical field in Malaysia due to its aging population.

Besides physiological illnesses like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis, there is a group of conditions that is commonly identified in the elderly. These are known as geriatric syndromes and they are usually not linked to a single disease but rather an accumulation of conditions and the inability for the individual to compensate for them.

Geriatricians tend to take care of overall aspects of the elderly’s wellbeing by considering their physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. As such, they usually work together with your primary care doctor, nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, physical therapists, mental health experts, social workers, and even your caregivers and family members.

List of conditions

Arthritis
Alzheimer’s disease
Cancer
Dementia
Diabetes
Depression
Urinary incontinence
Falls/balance issues
Frailty
Heart disease
Insomnia
Osteoporosis
Polypharmacy

List of procedures

Assessment of functional ability
- This evaluates your ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) like eating, dressing, bathing, bladder and bowel control, toilet usage, and transferring between a bed and a chair. ADLs are essential to ensure that the elderly can live independently and perform important life roles.
Review of physical health
- Your medical history will be reviewed, along with a physical test to evaluate your vision, hearing, continence, gait, and balance. You will also likely be subjected to a ‘brown bag’ review where you will have to bring in all your medicines and supplements to your appointment and also be assessed on your ability to follow medication instructions and manage them safely. If your doctor is concerned with inappropriate polypharmacy, your prescriptions may be altered or removed entirely, taking into account your personal goals, functional ability, life expectancy, and preferences.
Assessment of cognitive and mental health
- Your geriatrician will assess different areas of your cognitive function by testing you on short- and long-term memory, math, attention and concentration, naming objects, and judgment. There will also be questionnaires where the points obtained will help your doctor in determining your likelihood of having depression.
Assessment of socioenvironmental situation
- This assessment is usually done by or together with a social worker. Based on your social network (support from your family and friends), your financial condition, and convenience of access to housing, safety, transport, and other local resources, your geriatric team can make a comprehensive care plan for you.

Our Specialists