What is a geriatric doctor?

You probably know when to see certain medical specialists, such as a physical therapist after an injury, an orthodontist for braces, or a cardiologist when managing a heart condition. But you may be less familiar with another field of medicine that doctors can specialize in: geriatrics.

What is a geriatric doctor?

A geriatric doctor, or geriatrician, focus on health issues that affect older adults, including how the body responds differently to illness, injury, medication, and aging as the years pass. We live in a rapidly aging society: The number of people aged 65 and older increased by 50.9 million, from 4.9 million (or 4.7% of the total U.S. population) in 1920 to 55.8 million (16.8%) in 2020.¹ This represents a growth rate of about 1,000%, almost five times that of the total population (about 200%). Demand for geriatricians may continue to grow as the baby boomer generation ages and life expectancy increases.

If you’re wondering how old you have to be to see a geriatrician, the short answer is that there’s no set age or magic number. In fact, not every older adult needs to see one. If you feel well, can do the things you want to do, and manage minor health conditions effectively; you can probably continue seeing your primary care physician. However, if you have multiple medical conditions that overlap or become more difficult to manage with age, a geriatrician may be able to help you manage them more effectively and answer your questions.

Signs you may benefit from seeing a geriatrician

Geriatricians can help address both social and medical concerns, sometimes in partnership with social workers and other specialists. Family doctors can help many older adults manage their health as they age, but older adults may benefit from a geriatrician’s specific expertise. If you take multiple medications or have memory, balance, or mobility concerns, consider consulting a geriatrician.

The American Geriatrics Society recommends consulting a geriatrician if “an older person's condition causes considerable impairment and frailty. These patients tend to be over the age of 75 and coping with a number of diseases and disabilities, including cognitive (mental) problems."²

Your caregiving support network is another important consideration. If your primary family caregiver is unpaid or doesn’t work in the medical field, or if family members and friends are feeling considerable stress and strain as caregivers, a geriatrician may become a new and valuable part of your support network.

A geriatrician can also assess your overall health by considering how different conditions affect one another. Incontinence, for example, may require a different approach when someone has a memory diagnosis such as Alzheimer’s disease and has difficulty following the sequence of steps needed for toileting. A geriatrician might also consider whether mobility challenges make it harder to reach the restroom quickly and assess the related risk of falling.

Geriatricians are accustomed to including family caregivers in care planning for older adults. When available, they may also work with assisted living, memory care, or nursing home staff to create care plans that support an older adult’s quality of life. Geriatricians may also work in Federally Qualified Community Health Centers that serve large populations of older adults.

You may also benefit from seeing a geriatrician if you’re currently hospitalized, have recently left the hospital, or know that you’re preparing for surgery or another medical need. One study found that when older adults prepared for a hospital stay with a coordinated, holistic team of medical experts, including geriatric specialists, their stays were shorter and their readmission rates were half those of the control group.³

Broadly speaking, a “senior” is someone over age 65. However, the people who may benefit most from seeing a geriatrician are often in their 70s, 80s, or 90s and need help managing multiple age-related conditions. If you, your family caregivers, or your care managers find it difficult to keep up with complex treatment plans, a geriatrician can help coordinate with other care providers and make the health care system easier to navigate.

How to find a geriatrician

The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) reports that, despite growing demand and need for their services, there are currently only about 7,000 geriatric specialists in the U.S.⁴ You can visit the AGS geriatrician finder for help locating a specialist.

If there aren’t any geriatricians in your area, you may be able to consult one remotely through telehealth technology. Time can matter when you’re managing complex health needs, so if you think a geriatrician could help you or a loved one, consider making an appointment sooner rather than later.︎