What Is Included in a Routine Geriatric Check-Up?
At Abraham Family Medicine, we take immense pride in the specialized, compassionate care that we provide to all of our patients. However, geriatric medicine has always been a cornerstone of our practice. This is because as we age, our bodies face unique challenges and require tailored preventive strategies. And it takes considerable experience in the field of geriatric medicine to be able to provide the kind of care that our senior patients require and deserve. In this post, we wanted to go into more detail on one of the foundational aspects of healthcare for seniors, the routine geriatric check-up, and what is included in this service.
Why Routine Geriatric Check-Ups Are So Important:
Preventive medicine is important for all people, but becomes vital as we get older and our bodies experience more significant changes. With age comes increased risk of many of the most common chronic health conditions. These conditions include heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, many forms of cancer, osteoporosis, and more. While prevention may not always be possible, early detection through regular screenings is of the utmost importance. Especially since many of these conditions don’t show any noticeable symptoms when they are in their earliest and most treatable stages.
What Routine Geriatric Check-Ups May Include:
In our office, we adhere to the guidelines for routine geriatric check-up appointments laid out by the United States Prevention Task Force (USPSTF) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Medical tests for seniors that may be conducted as part of these appointments include:
- Measuring vital health indicators like weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and thyroid health
- Screening for diabetes
- Measuring bone density and screening for osteoporosis
- Providing essential vaccinations to protect against the flu, pneumonia, shingles, and more
- Screening for colon cancer
- Female-only exams including breast cancer screening, pelvic screenings, and pap testing
- Male-only exams including prostate cancer screening, rectal exams, PSA (Prostate-specific antigen) testing
The Power of Proactive Care
Routine geriatric check-ups can provide extremely valuable information about your health, and help you and your doctor make informed decisions about what’s best for your long-term wellness. By spotting changes early, we can adjust treatments, lifestyle plans, and referrals before small issues become major concerns.
Ready for Your Geriatric Check-Up?
For more information or to schedule your routine geriatric check-up with one of our family medicine healthcare providers, please contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.
