We Need Better Doctors Taking Care of Nursing Home Residents

Dan Frith

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Let's face it...elderly patients in nursing homes have complex medical problems...it they didn't they would not be in need of nursing home care. Frequently, elderly residents of nursing homes have problems related to hypertension, diabetes, dementia, reduced vision and hearing, immobility, dehydration, malnutrition, and on....and on...and on.

The doctors charged with responsibility to care for these patients need specialized skills and training, in my opinion they should all be "geriatric specialists." Geriatricians are initially trained in family practice or internal medicine and then complete at least one additional year of specialized training in Geriatrics. A Geriatrician is a doctor who specializes in care for people 65 and older. Just as a Pediatrician tends to the needs of a child, a Geriatrician cares for the special needs of seniors.

My Take: If you have a loved one living in a nursing home, do your best to make sure they are regularly seen by a geriatrician.