Geriatric Specialty Care: Best Practices for Your Practice

November 4, 2022

Aging creates a whole host of potential complications and problems for elderly patients, from drug interactions to increased risk of falls to new chronic health conditions. To address these unique needs, geriatric specialty care is essential. Geriatricians are specially trained to understand the complex health needs of older adults. They can provide comprehensive care and management of chronic conditions, as well as coordinate care with other specialists. Geriatric specialty care can help to improve the quality of life for older adults and can also reduce hospitalizations and emergency room visits.

With so many daily patients and the constant worry about keeping their records true and in check, clinical practitioners who treat elderly patients or specialize in geriatric care can benefit from all the additional support they can get. Geriatricians like the Care Navigators at 1 True Health can provide knowledgeable support and education for both patients and their caregivers. This can help practitioners better meet the needs of their elderly patients and improve the quality of one-on-one time. By understanding the unique needs of older adults, geriatricians can help create a better quality of life for all involved.

Don’t feel overwhelmed or lose sleep over your elderly patients. Let 1 True Health Care Navigators be there when you can’t be.

The Essential Components of Quality Geriatric Specialty Care

A meaningful geriatric specialty care system is one that provides the best possible quality of life for the elderly population while also supporting their independence and autonomy as much as possible. It should take into account the physical, mental, and emotional needs of the patient and provide a comprehensive range of services to meet those needs. The care should be individualized for each elderly person, taking into account their unique circumstances and preferences.

Geriatric specialty care should also be affordable and accessible to all who need it. It should be provided in a way that maximizes the safety and security of the elderly while also respecting their dignity and privacy. Ultimately, a good elderly care system is one that meets the needs of all stakeholders – the elderly themselves, their families, their medical care team, and the wider community. Here are a few components that we feel are important for a better geriatric specialty care experience.

Person-Centric Care Protocol

We understand that the elderly need more than just medical support. They are people with their own hopes, dreams, and preferences. Happy seniors are healthy seniors. That’s why our care plans at 1 True Health are designed to put the elderly at the center. We work with our clients to make sure they retain control of their lives and get the assistance they need to live their lives to the fullest. Our team of healthcare professionals and Care Navigators are here to help make that happen. We provide kind, compassionate, and individualized care that meets the unique needs of each of our clients. From assistance in following medication instructions to answering health questions and following up on doctor-recommended lifestyle changes, geriatric specialty care aides like our Care Navigators offer an individualized care experience as well as helping doctors and care facilities keep patients on track and limit complications.

Regular Monitoring of Vital Signs & Reporting

As all healthcare professionals know, aging creates a lot of changes that often lead to health problems. Senior citizens are especially susceptible to issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, and arthritis. This is why it’s so important for them to have their vital signs monitored on a regular basis. By keeping close tabs on things like blood pressure, pulse, and respiration, geriatric specialty care practitioners can catch any problems early on and get seniors the care they need. These measurements can also be used to track the progress of existing conditions and make sure that seniors are staying as healthy as possible. However, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals can’t always do this regularly and still have enough time to care for all their patients. Remote monitoring services like 1 True Health can help bridge that gap and provide both quality care to seniors and relieve the workload on their medical team. Our geriatric specialty care plans include regular remote monitoring for all of our clients. This way, we can ensure that they’re getting the best possible care.

Coordination of Clinical Services

When it comes to medical care, it’s essential that the left hand know what the right hand is doing. Especially when it comes to the changing needs and multiple specialists that the elderly often require, coordination is key. A geriatric specialty care coordinator can keep all members of a patient’s healthcare team informed of changes in medication or treatment plans, acute or chronic conditions, and other information essential for them to make the right care recommendations. Care Navigators at 1 True Health do all of this for our clients, including making all the patient records accessible in one place for clear and easy communication for healthcare practitioners.

Early Warning Systems

Traumatic health events often have early warning signs, but if no one is keeping track of senior patients regularly and individually, they may go unnoticed. Whether it’s frequently forgetting to take medications or signs that they will soon need a walker or wheelchair, frequent on-on-one contact can give a senior’s greater care team a heads up on potential problems and take steps to avoid accidents or unnecessary deteriorating health. Knowing about these warning signs in advance can help both the caregivers and the elderly person. A premium geriatric specialty care provider like 1 True Health will coordinate with the doctors and caregivers to let them know ahead of time of any precautions that need to be taken and alert them of any changes or warning signs of problems. This way, everyone can be prepared, and the elderly patient can get the best possible care.

Support for Nutritional Needs

Aging causes changes to metabolism and the ability to consume food. This can cause deficiencies of essential nutrients that can further complicate matters. With the help of our regular healthcare monitoring and personalized plans, our geriatric specialty care professionals can help detect deficiencies and closely work with caregivers and doctors to come up with a personalized diet for the patient to get all the nutrients they need. If a person is undergoing treatment for cancer, nausea and loss of appetite are common side effects. With the help of our team, we can devise a plan that would work best for the individual and make sure that they are getting the nutrition they need.

Ageing with Dignity

As anyone who has cared for an elderly loved one knows, gathering clinical data can be difficult. Dementia, impaired hearing, and visual handicaps often limit communication, making it hard to obtain an accurate history. This can be overwhelming for both the elderly patient and their family caregivers. Our geriatric care plans focus on meeting the needs of both the elderly patient and their caregiver. We understand that what they want is dignity in aging and quality of life – for themselves and their families. Our program provides the extra support they need to reduce the burden of caregiving and give seniors additional emotional support to age in place with dignity. We believe this is the best way to meet the needs of all involved and improve the quality of life for everyone involved.

Communication: Key to Geriatric Specialty Care

Communication is an essential component of healing. Research shows that patients who receive effective doctor-patient communication have better outcomes, express greater satisfaction with their treatment, and file fewer malpractice claims. Good communication is an important part of caring for an older patient. In addition to preventing medical errors, it can improve health outcomes, and strengthen the patient-provider relationship. The most effective communication techniques involve speaking directly to the patient in a kind and caring voice. It is also important to be clear and concise when communicating with an older patient. This can be challenging, as older patients may have difficulty understanding complex medical concepts. However, taking the time to explain things clearly and answer any questions the patient may have can make a big difference in the quality of care they receive. By using effective communication techniques, you can improve relationships with older patients and manage their care more effectively.

Did they fully understand your care instructions? Will they remember them? Let 1 True Health follow up with your patients and be sure the message got through.

Make Older Patients Comfortable

It’s important for both caregivers and doctors to always make older patients comfortable. There are a few reasons for this: first, older patients are more likely to have chronic health conditions that can be exacerbated by stress and anxiety. Second, older patients are often less able to communicate their needs, which can lead to feeling frustrated or ignored. Additionally, many older patients have limited social support, so their interactions with medical staff may be some of the only human contacts they have on a given day. Making sure that older patients feel comfortable during their appointments is not only polite and humane, but it also has a direct impact on their health and well-being.

Show Them You Are Listening

Whether you’re a doctor, a nurse, a social worker, or a family member, it’s important to be aware of the challenges that come with communicating with older patients. As we age, we may find it harder to hear, see, and process information. We may also have trouble keeping track of conversations and may feel more confused and disoriented. That’s why it’s important to be patient and to make an effort to communicate effectively. When talking with an older patient, face them directly, maintain eye contact, and use frequent, brief responses to let them know you’re listening. Try to keep the discussion focused and avoid interrupting or talking over them. If they seem confused or unsure, repeat back what you’ve heard in your own words. By taking a few extra minutes to communicate clearly and respectfully, we can help ensure that older patients receive the care and attention they deserve.

Arrange for Follow-Up

It’s not much good to clearly communicate a message that won’t be reinforced or remembered. Ensuring that seniors who may have become forgetful or were confused about care instructions to begin with have regular follow-up is essential. Having one-on-one routine communication with 1 True Health Care Navigators means that doctors and facility managers won’t have to worry about whether or not follow-up will be done. Our geriatric specialty care professionals will review your instructions, regularly check in with your patients, and alert you immediately if anything seems to be going wrong.

1 True Health: Your True Geriatric Specialty Care Partner

At 1 True Health, we understand the importance of good communication. Our care navigators are skilled in this area and excel at providing compassionate, informative, and delightful care. We focus on remote patient monitoring and chronic care management, and our geriatric specialty care plan is designed to educate and inform seniors. We also provide a bridge between caregivers and seniors, making sure that everyone is on the same page. Our goal is to provide the highest quality care for our clients, and we believe that communication is a key part of that. If you’re looking for a care management company that understands the importance of communication, call us today. We’d be happy to help your practice or facility truly make seniors’ last years comfortable and meaningful.