Geriatric Care in Family Medicine

Geriatric Care in Family Medicine: Meeting the Needs of an Aging Population

As life expectancy rises and the population ages, the role of family medicine in providing comprehensive geriatric care has never been more vital. By 2030, one in five Americans will be over the age of 65, and many will be living with chronic conditions, functional limitations, or complex medication regimens. Family physicians are uniquely positioned to guide patients and their families through this stage of life with a holistic, patient-centered approach.

Unique Needs of Older Adults

Geriatric care is not simply adult medicine with more birthdays. Aging brings unique challenges:

• Multiple chronic conditions – diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and dementia often coexist, requiring careful coordination.
• Polypharmacy – many older adults take five or more medications, increasing the risk of side effects and drug interactions.
• Functional decline – maintaining mobility, independence, and cognitive health is as important as managing lab values.
• Social determinants – isolation, financial strain, and caregiving challenges deeply affect health outcomes.

Core Principles of Geriatric Care in Family Medicine

Annual wellness visits often expand into detailed geriatric assessments, including physical and cognitive screenings, fall risk evaluation, review of medications, and social support and safety checks.

Some of the things Family Medicine doctors specialize in include:

• Deprescribing – safely reducing unnecessary medications – is as critical as prescribing. Family doctors often collaborate with pharmacists to minimize harm and streamline regimens.
• Function – Traditional disease-focused goals may shift toward function and quality of life. For example, tight blood sugar control may take a backseat to avoiding dangerous lows in an older patient with fall risk.
• Anticipating the future – From vaccinations to advance care planning, geriatric care is about anticipating needs. Family physicians help patients articulate goals of care and prepare for transitions, whether to assisted living, hospice, or home-based support.

Unlike specialists who treat a single condition, Family Medicine physicians build long-term, trusted relationships. They often care for multiple generations within a family, giving them insight into patient values, caregiving resources, and health history. This continuity fosters better communication and smoother decision-making.

MCH Pro Care operates two conveniently located Family Medicine Clinics, both clinics are accepting new patients. Call to get scheduled today!

MCH ProCare Family Medicine & Occupational Medicine is located at 8050 E Highway 191 Suite 104A, call (432) 640-6476.

MCH Family Health Clinic Clements is located at 840 West Clements Street Odessa, call (432) 640-4860.