Understanding Your Medical Insurance

Posted on: 29 July 2016

Good health is critical as you start to age as it ensures independence, productivity, and security. Unfortunately, your quality of life can be quickly affected by chronic illnesses. Around 92% of older adults suffer from at least one chronic illness, and about 77% suffer from two chronic illnesses. To better diagnose and handle the symptoms that occur from these illnesses, it is important for the older population to have a geriatric assessment conducted by their internist. This geriatric assessment is much more in depth than a typical physical a person would get. The importance of the assessment can be seen in a 2006 study of nearly 1400 older adults who were hospitalized at 11 VA medical centers. They found that those randomly assigned to an inpatient geriatric unit where they underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment fared better than those assigned to usual inpatient care.

When to Get a Geriatric Assessment

Geriatric assessments are not for every older adult. Some adults can thrive in their environment and remain healthy enough not to need more intensive care. For those who struggle to live on their own or endure multiple health issues, a geriatric assessment can be beneficial. The assessment is usually covered by medical insurance or medicare and requires a referral from the adult's primary physician. If you think your loved one or yourself could benefit from the assessment, you should ask your doctor about a recommendation. 

Who is Involved in the Geriatric Assessment

The geriatric assessment is not conducted by one person, but instead by multiple medical staff. In fact, you may see a team of doctors, nurses, counselors, and physical therapists. You may also be referred to more specific doctors like a neuropsychologist or geriatrician for more testing. As a team, they will list their findings into one basic report and provide the information to your primary caregiver so they can determine what type of care is needed going forward. 

How is the Assessment Conducted

The geriatric assessment may take several visits to the medical staff in order to be completed. This is due to being seen by multiple medical professionals and offices. Once each area conducts their individual assessment, they will then recommend further treatment options. They can even diagnose certain chronic illnesses and potential problems to look at more closely. This can be helpful in diagnosing health issues early. 

What Type of Factors are Looked At

During the geriatric assessment, the medical staff will pay close attention to things that will affect your health and the overall quality of life. These things may include, memory loss, incontinence, medication issues, fall risk, depression, and more. Should they find anything to be concerned about, they will put together a plan to help the older adult function better. Together with the patient, the internist will formulate a plan to help deal with any issues so that your quality of life remains positive. 

For more information, contact professionals like Broadway Medical Clinic, LLP