Summary Dr. Des explains what geriatricians do, why their whole-person approach differs from care focused on a single condition, and why an assessment can be useful before a health crisis. He also outlines five signs to watch for, how to arrange and prepare for a consultation, and practical questions to ask. Keywords Geriatrician, healthy aging, older adults, falls prevention, medication review, polypharmacy, aging well Key topics (1) A geriatrician is a specialist in the health of older people, trained to understand how ageing affects multiple body systems. (2) Geriatricians connect the dots across health issues, medications, mobility, memory, and independence. (3) A review by a geriatrician covers memory, mood, sleep, falls risk, medical history, medications, physical health, services, and personal priorities. (4) Five possible reasons to ask about geriatric care: a fall or near-fall, a pattern of memory changes, five or more medications, two or more hospital admissions in a year, or declining independence and carer strain. (5) A geriatrician complements rather than replaces the GP, who remains the primary care doctor and coordinates ongoing care. (6) To prepare, bring every medicine and supplement, a list of questions, notes about falls and assessments, and a trusted friend or family member if possible. (7) At the appointment, advise what matters most to you, which medicines still help, what you can start doing, what warning signs to watch for, and who will follow up. Action items (1) Put every prescription, over-the-counter medicine, supplement, cream, eye drop, and inhaler in one bag and take it to your next appointment for review. (2) Write down every fall or near-miss from the past year. (3) Bring written questions and key health details, and consider bringing a family member or friend. (4) At the consultation, ask which medicines are still helping, what warning signs to watch for, and who will follow up the plan. Chapters 00:00 Why a geriatrician is more than a nursing home doctor 02:14 How aging changes the body, and what geriatricians specialize in 03:21 Why whole-person care connects problems other specialists treat separately 04:14 What happens during a full-picture assessment 06:00 Evidence for comprehensive geriatric assessment and the GP's role 07:11 Medicine 3.0: prevent the crisis before it happens 09:16 Five signs to consider a geriatrician 13:13 Why earlier care can reduce harm, cost, and access barriers 15:44 Getting a referral and preparing for the appointment 18:27 What to expect and five questions to ask your geriatrician 23:41 The myth that geriatricians are only for frailty 25:10 Three steps to take this week
