Overview

The Centre of Geriatric Medicine provides specialised healthcare for older adults, focusing on healthy ageing, chronic disease management, mobility, memory, medicines, nutrition, emotional wellbeing, and independence. Geriatric care is designed for people who may have multiple health conditions, age-related changes, frailty, falls, or complex care needs.

The goal is not only to treat illness, but also to preserve function, prevent complications, improve quality of life, and support families and caregivers.

What Is Geriatric Medicine?

Geriatric Medicine is a specialised branch of medicine that focuses on the health needs of older adults. A geriatrician evaluates the whole person, including physical health, mental health, medicines, mobility, memory, nutrition, home safety, and social support.

Common areas of care include:

• Comprehensive geriatric assessment

• Diabetes, hypertension, heart, kidney, and lung disease management

• Memory loss, dementia, and delirium evaluation

• Falls, balance problems, and fracture prevention

• Frailty and weakness management

• Polypharmacy and medicine review

• Urinary incontinence

• Osteoporosis and bone health

• Depression, anxiety, sleep, and loneliness-related concerns

• Nutrition, weight loss, and sarcopenia

• Post-hospitalisation recovery

• Rehabilitation and caregiver support

Causes and Risk Factors

Older adults may need geriatric care because ageing often brings multiple health conditions and functional changes at the same time.

Common risk factors include:

• Multiple chronic diseases

• Use of several medicines

• Previous falls or fractures

• Memory problems or confusion

• Poor vision or hearing

• Muscle weakness or reduced mobility

• Poor nutrition or unintentional weight loss

• Social isolation or caregiver stress

• Recent hospitalisation

• Diabetes, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, or arthritis

• Sleep problems, depression, or anxiety

Early geriatric assessment helps detect risks before they lead to serious complications.

Symptoms

Older adults should be evaluated when new or worsening symptoms affect independence, safety, or daily activities.

Common symptoms include:

• Frequent falls or fear of falling

• Difficulty walking or climbing stairs

• Weakness, fatigue, or reduced activity

• Memory loss or confusion

• Dizziness or fainting

• Poor appetite or weight loss

• Sleep problems

• Low mood, anxiety, or withdrawal

• Urinary leakage or frequent urination

• Pain from arthritis, spine disease, or fractures

• Difficulty managing medicines

• Reduced ability to bathe, dress, eat, or move independently

Urgent care is needed for sudden confusion, chest pain, breathlessness, stroke-like symptoms, fall with head injury, fracture, seizures, severe weakness, dehydration, or sudden inability to walk.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis begins with a comprehensive geriatric assessment, which looks beyond one disease and evaluates overall health, function, and support needs.

Common assessments include:

• Medical history and physical examination

• Review of all medicines and supplements

• Blood pressure, sugar, kidney, liver, thyroid, and blood count testing

• Memory and cognitive screening

• Depression and anxiety screening

• Falls and balance assessment

• Vision and hearing review

• Nutrition and weight assessment

• Bone health and osteoporosis evaluation

• Functional assessment for daily activities

• Home safety and caregiver support review

This helps create a care plan that is practical, safe, and personalised.

Treatment Options

Treatment depends on the person’s health conditions, goals, function, and support system.

Geriatric care may include:

• Chronic disease treatment and monitoring

• Medicine simplification and dose adjustment

• Falls prevention and balance training

• Physiotherapy and rehabilitation

• Nutrition support and protein guidance

• Memory care planning

• Treatment of depression, anxiety, sleep problems, or delirium

• Osteoporosis treatment and fracture prevention

• Incontinence management

• Vaccination guidance

• Post-discharge recovery planning

• Caregiver counselling and long-term care planning

A geriatric care plan aims to reduce hospital visits, improve safety, and maintain independence for as long as possible.

Prevention and Outlook

Healthy ageing can be supported through regular check-ups, physical activity, strength training, balanced nutrition, vaccination, social engagement, safe home environments, vision and hearing care, fall prevention, and careful medicine review.

The outlook depends on overall health, frailty level, chronic disease control, mobility, cognition, and family support. With timely geriatric care, many older adults can remain active, safer, and more independent.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When should an older adult see a geriatrician?
   A geriatrician should be consulted for frequent falls, memory problems, multiple diseases, multiple medicines, frailty, weight loss, confusion, poor mobility, or difficulty managing daily activities.

2. What is comprehensive geriatric assessment?
   It is a detailed evaluation of medical conditions, medicines, memory, mood, mobility, nutrition, function, and social support.

3. Is memory loss normal in ageing?
   Mild forgetfulness can occur with ageing, but worsening memory, confusion, difficulty managing tasks, or behaviour changes need medical evaluation.

4. Can falls be prevented?
   Many falls can be reduced through exercise, medicine review, vision checks, safe footwear, home safety changes, and balance training.

5. Why is medicine review important in older adults?
   Older adults may be more sensitive to medicines, and multiple medicines can increase the risk of dizziness, falls, confusion, and side effects.

6. Can geriatric care help caregivers?
   Yes. Geriatric care includes caregiver guidance, safety planning, long-term care advice, and support for managing chronic or memory-related conditions.