Dr. Sajesh Asokan explains the emerging role of geriatricians in India

Dr. Sajesh Asokan explains the emerging role of geriatricians in India, who manage the medical management and diseases associated with the aging population. He explains that geriatrics deals with the medical management and diseases associated with the aging population. In Western nations, this field is considered a specialty within internal medicine, while in India, it is becoming an increasingly popular specialization. Unlike in pediatrics where there is a defined age group, geriatric patients can be classified as young old, mid old, and old old, and therefore require a more comprehensive approach to their specific problems associated with aging. As the aging population grows, geriatric medicine is becoming an essential part of medical practice in India, for internal medicine specialists, family medicine specialists, and general practitioners.

Dr. Sajesh Asokan describes the role of a geriatrician as being patient-centered, with the geriatrician managing all aspects of the patient's care and referring to other specialists only when needed. Geriatricians work in both hospital and community settings, with community geriatrics being particularly important since many elderly patients do not seek medical attention until they are brought to the hospital. The three points of contact between the geriatrician and the patient are described as being in the outpatient department, the emergency or casualty department, and the inpatient ward. Each point of contact is an opportunity to assess and study the patient further, which is particularly important given the complexity of elderly patients and the need for comprehensive and coordinated care.
Dr. Sajesh Asokan emphasizes the importance of geriatricians for the elderly population. He mentioned that as people age, they develop various issues, and that is when the role of these health professionals is crucial. They can guide regarding management of conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, bedsore, or incontinence. Even if the patient is admitted to another department, help from an internal medicine physician or a geriatrician is always available to help sort out the matter.