Private Specialist Care for Older Adults at our Galway Clinic
Geriatric Medicine focuses on addressing the complex healthcare needs of older adults. We provide care with expertise and compassion.
Our service aims to help older people to manage acute and chronic diseases. This includes improving functional abilities and optimising cognitive health. A holistic mix of medical disciplines can enhance the quality of life for older patients.
You or your loved one might be dealing with multiple acute or chronic health conditions. You might be experiencing mobility issues or requiring assessment of cognitive impairment. Blackrock Health's care teams can provide treatment.
We also offer compassionate end-of-life care services. This ensures dignity and comfort during these most challenging times. We understand this is essential for the individual and also their loved ones.
Geriatric Medicine at Blackrock Health
Geriatric Medicine at Blackrock Health provides care tailored to the unique needs of older adults experiencing a broad range of serious medical conditions..
Our team of geriatricians, nurses, and therapists works together. We help older people to manage acute and chronic diseases. We also address those with functional and cognitive impairment. This ensures a rounded approach to each patient.
We aim to improve quality of life and maintain independence. We do this via personalised treatment plans, preventive care, and support services.
Access to the latest technology enables skilled consultants to efficiently diagnose complex cases in the older patient. Our teams specialise in Medicine for Older Adults.
Blackrock Health aims to guide patients and their families through the complexities of ageing. We also offer compassionate end-of-life care, respecting the individual's wishes and seeking the best outcomes.
Why might I be referred for geriatric services?
Older adults often have multiple health issues. These include acute illnesses, chronic conditions, cognitive decline, and mobility problems. Their care is more complex than that for a single illness.
If you have pain, imbalance, dizziness, or trouble with daily tasks, and initial treatments have not worked, you may need a referral to specialists in older adult medical care issues.
Geriatric medicine adopts a holistic approach to tackling health issues related to ageing. It aims to manage symptoms and underlying conditions, ensuring care that improves well-being and quality of life.
What types of geriatric medical conditions do we treat?
Geriatric Medicine focuses on the health needs of older adults. As people age, they may face chronic conditions, take multiple medications, and experience mobility, sensory, and cognitive issues. This requires thorough and compassionate care.
At Blackrock Health, we commit to enhancing the quality of life for older adults.
Common conditions that often coexist in our patients include:
● Dementia/cognitive impairment
● Heart disease and cardiovascular risk factors
● Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
● Cancers
● Mobility issues
● Stroke
● Complex Medication lists (polypharmacy)
Team members in Blackrock Health's Geriatric Medicine department
● Consultant Physicians/Geriatricians
● Occupational therapists
● Speech and Language therapists
What to expect within this service for older adults
In our Blackrock Health private hospitals, individuals can expect tailored care. We will meet the unique needs of older adults. Our healthcare specialists manage acute and chronic conditions. We address functional limits and aim for the best outcomes.
An initial comprehensive assessment may include tests of medical, cognitive, and functional status. We can then create a personalised treatment plan. The goal is to optimise health and independence.
Services may include, as appropriate:
- medication management
- physical
- occupational therapy
- nutritional support
Our geriatric medicine services
Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment
A comprehensive geriatric assessment checks an older patient's health and functioning.
The assessment includes, as appropriate, a wide range of medical (including medications), social (including what matters most to the individual), psychological, mobility, cognitive, and functional components. This will help us find any health issues and create a targeted care plan.
Management of Chronic Diseases
Our expert healthcare professionals develop a personalised care plan that includes medication management, lifestyle modifications and regular monitoring, striving to promote optimal disease management to minimise complications, improve overall health outcomes and enhance the quality of life.
Cognitive health assessment
Maintaining cognitive health and addressing mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety are crucial aspects of Geriatric Medicine. A strong focus on the diagnosis and management of cognitive impairment including dementia is maintained. (Not available in Galway Clinic)
This approach may include:
- Medication management.
- Anticipatory management, including capacity assessments for making Wills and legal decisions, like an Enduring Power of Attorney.
- Facilitating access to support groups, services, and equipment.
Fall prevention and Rehabilitation
Falls can cause serious injuries and diminish confidence and independence. We offer medical assessments to identify fall causes. Additionally, we provide physiotherapy and occupational therapy to enhance safety and well-being in older adults.
The assessment involves, as appropriate, medical tests and treatment for the cause of falls. It also includes evaluating fall risks, providing strength and balance training, and suggesting environmental changes. The goal is to restore function and improve mobility.
Accessing our geriatric services
You can access Blackrock Health services for older adults with your GP's referral. Then, you'll receive a professional assessment, either inpatient or outpatient.
For inpatients, over 75% of our rooms are private. This aids quicker recovery in a safer environment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Specialist Care for Older Adults
At Blackrock Health Private Hospital in Galway, we recognise that visiting our services for older adults can be stressful and uncertain for you and your loved ones.
To ease your concerns and provide clear information, we've created a list of FAQs about our services for older adults. Our aim is to offer expert care for our elderly patients, ensuring timely and efficient treatment for a range of conditions which fall under our geriatric service and are handled in the strictest of confidence by our expert geriatric care team.
Why is specialised care important for older adults?
Older adults often face complex health issues. These include multiple acute and chronic conditions, several medications, and challenges with mobility and function. Age-related changes add to these problems. Specialised care is crucial. It improves quality of life and helps maintain independence.
How do I know if my elderly loved one needs to see a geriatrician?
Early intervention can improve outcomes. Consider seeing a geriatrician if you, or your older loved one, have an acute or subacute deterioration without an obvious explanation or solution, and/or are having trouble with daily activities, cognitive impairment or memory issues, deteriorating mobility, experiencing tendency to fall and/or are on multiple medications for various multiple chronic health conditions that may require careful review and optimisation.
How can geriatric medicine improve my loved one's quality of life?
Geriatric medicine aims to improve quality of life. It does this by managing acute and chronic diseases. It also seeks to reduce the risk of falls and hospitalisations. It aims to optimise cognitive health and enhance mobility and independence.
Are family members involved in the care process?
Yes, family members can be involved in care, with the older person's consent. The specialist team works closely with the individual. If the person agrees, family members can help create care plans, provide education, and offer support.
How do I access Specialist Care for Older Adults?
How do I get this?
You will need a referral letter from your GP or consultant before you make an appointment.
My health insurance and costs for Specialist Care for Older Adults
Is this insured?
Not all services are covered by health insurance. To find out if you're covered, please check your health insurance before your visit. You can do this on our health insurance cover check page, or by contacting your health insurer.
How do I pay?
If you do not have health insurance or your health plan does not cover the full cost, you will need to pay the balance due before your treatment or procedure. You may be able to claim back some fees on your insurance. To pay an excess not covered by your insurance or any other inpatient fees, please visit our payment page. If you have any queries about paying for your care, please contact the finance team in your hospital.
