Geriatric Care in Queens & Manhattan, NY

Older adults often take five or more prescriptions, plus vitamins and over-the-counter remedies picked up along the way. Each one may have made sense when it was started, but together they can cause dizziness, confusion, stomach bleeding or falls. Kidney and liver function also change with age, so a dose that worked at 55 may be too strong at 80.

As part of senior primary care in Elmhurst and Chinatown, we treat the medication list as something to maintain, not just refill. Our goal is the fewest medicines that still control your conditions well, taken on a schedule you can actually follow.

Medication Reviews

Bring every bottle you take to your visit, including eye drops, inhalers, sleep aids, herbal products and anything prescribed by another doctor. Your provider goes through each one: why you take it, whether it is still needed, whether the dose fits your current kidney function and whether a simpler option exists. We check for duplicates, which happen often when several specialists prescribe. You leave with an updated written list you can share with family, pharmacists and hospitals.

Avoiding Drug Interactions

Some combinations are riskier for older bodies. Blood thinners mixed with common pain relievers can raise bleeding risk, and several sleep and allergy medicines are linked to confusion and falls. Clinicians use tools such as the American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria to flag drugs that are often inappropriate after 65. If a change is needed, we explain the reason, adjust gradually when that is safer, and coordinate with the prescribing specialist before stopping anything.

Forgetfulness and unsteadiness are two of the most common worries we hear from older patients and their children. Neither should be brushed off as "just getting older." Some causes are treatable, and early attention can protect independence for years. These concerns are also among the main reasons families start looking for a geriatric doctor in NYC.

We look at memory, mood and mobility together because they affect one another. Depression can look like memory loss, poor sleep can worsen balance, and a fall can shake someone's confidence enough that they stop going out. Screening is quick, done in the exam room, and repeated over time so we can notice change.

Memory Screening

A brief cognitive check takes a few minutes and involves simple tasks like recalling words or drawing a clock. If results raise concern, we look for reversible causes first, including thyroid problems, low vitamin B12, medication side effects, depression, hearing loss and sleep problems, using lab work ordered through our office. When further evaluation is needed, we refer to neurology or memory specialists and help the family understand next steps without rushing into conclusions.

Fall Risk Assessment

The CDC reports that about one in four adults 65 and older falls each year. We ask about past falls and fear of falling, watch how you rise from a chair and walk, and check blood pressure lying and standing. We also review medicines, vision and footwear. Depending on what we find, we may suggest physical therapy, a home safety checklist, a cane assessment or a referral to address vision or foot problems.

Medicare covers two kinds of prevention-focused visits that many seniors never use. The "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit is available within the first 12 months of Part B coverage. After that, the Annual Wellness Visit can be scheduled once every 12 months. Neither is a head-to-toe physical; they are planning visits built around your personal risks.

A typical Annual Wellness Visit with us includes:

• A health risk questionnaire and review of your medical and family history
• Height, weight, blood pressure and a check for cognitive changes
• A review of current medications and supplements
• A written screening schedule for the coming years, following national guidelines
• An optional conversation about advance care planning and health care proxies

If you want a Medicare doctor in NYC who will actually use these visits well, our clinics are a good fit. Patients in Lower Manhattan looking for a Medicare doctor in Chinatown can book at Catherine Street. Wellness visits are generally covered without a copay when the provider accepts assignment, though new problems discussed may be billed separately. We accept most major insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, so call to confirm your plan. See our preventive care page for screenings by age.

Caring for an aging parent often falls on one adult child who is also working and raising a family. We try to make that job easier. With the patient's permission, a family member can join visits in person or by phone, ask questions and hear the plan directly. We can document a health care proxy and note who is allowed to receive updates.

When staying safe at home needs more support, we help with the paperwork and orders behind it. That can include a home care referral in NYC to a certified home health agency, physical or occupational therapy at home, medical equipment such as walkers or shower chairs, and letters for insurance or housing. Our referral services team tracks specialist appointments and makes sure reports come back to your chart.

Language matters in these conversations. Our Elmhurst team speaks English and Spanish, and our Chinatown team speaks English, Chinese and Spanish, so parents and adult children can both follow along. When you are ready, you can schedule an appointment online at the clinic closest to you or to your parent. For chest pain, stroke symptoms or a serious fall, call 911.