Geriatrics Specialist
Delmar Primary Care Associates
Dannie E. Williams, MD, MPH
Primary Care located in St. Louis, MO
Geriatric medicine helps you organize all of the treatments and services you need to remain independent in old age. At Delmar Primary Care Associates in St. Louis, Missouri, skilled primary care physician Dannie Williams, MD, MPH, helps you manage your wellness with a healthy lifestyle and coordinated specialty care. If you’re 70 or older and need personalized geriatrics care, call Delmar Primary Care Associates or request an appointment online today.
Geriatrics Q&A
What is geriatrics?
Geriatrics refers to a kind of medical care targeted for elderly populations. Your body changes in countless ways over the years and decades, and it no longer functions as it did while you were in your youth. Geriatrics gives you the increased care and attention you need during your later years so you can live independently for as long as possible.
At Delmar Primary Care Associates, Dr. Williams personalizes your geriatric care to improve your quality of life. She works with you, your family, and any other caretakers or providers to make sure you receive the care you need at home and in medical settings.
Who can benefit from geriatric care?
Geriatrics is usually not necessary until around age 70 or 75. It’s person-centered, so it’s up to you, your family, and Dr. Williams to determine when you need it. A few signs it might be time to start a geriatric care plan include:
- Stress on family members from caretaking
- Considerable body fragility and being prone to injuries
- Managing multiple chronic conditions
- Regular visits with multiple specialists
With many chronic conditions or vulnerabilities, it becomes hard to keep up on care on your own or even with the help of your family members. Dr. Williams can simplify the process and make it easier for you to continue with your current treatments, follow-up visits, and medications.
Which diseases can geriatric care help manage?
As you age, your risk for many diseases generally goes up. Injuries are also more common in the elderly because you lose some of your strength and balance with age.
Since osteoporosis is more prevalent in aging populations, so are broken bones. Other conditions and issues that Dr. Williams can help you manage or prevent with geriatrics include:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Arthritis
- Depression
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol
- Mobility issues and falls
- Incontinence
Under Dr. Williams’ care, you can maintain your independence, mobility, and sexual functioning for as long as possible. She coordinates care with specialists, home attendants, and your family members.
Hospice and end-of-life care, when necessary, can make you more comfortable if your condition is declining rapidly. That is another part of geriatric care that Dr. Williams can help you coordinate if or when the time comes.
If you’re over age 70 and your health needs daily management, call Delmar Primary Care Associates for expert geriatric care or request an appointment online right away.