CARDIO VS. STRENGTH

SPECIALIZED PRIMARY CARE FOR OLDER ADULTS

HOW A GERIATRIC PHYSICIAN CAN HELP YOU STAY HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT LONGER

Marilyn Silverman provides almost a textbook example of what it’s like to have a geriatrician as your primary care doctor.

When she heard that Sara Ali, MD, a geriatric and palliative care specialist and a member of RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group, was coming on board at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton in 2019, Marilyn became one of Dr. Ali’s first patients. “Being in my 70s, I decided that a physician specializing in seniors was just what the doctor ordered,” Marilyn says with a wink.

Active and in good health, Marilyn mainly saw doctors for routine checkups. As a result, when she did go for an exam, she wanted her

Marilyn Silverman (right) has benefited in numerous ways from having geriatrician Sara Ali, MD (left), as her primary care doctor.

primary care physician to take time and be thorough.

Her decision has paid off in ways that exemplify what geriatric medicine is all about. She and Dr. Ali together take steps like these:

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS

“Dr. Ali gives me a comprehensive annual physical exam and asks a lot of questions,” Marilyn says, “about how my meds are working, what aches and pains I’m having and what issues and concerns I have about my health.”

“Appointments with a geriatrician may be longer than you expect—30 minutes to an hour,” Dr. Ali says. “We take a broad, whole-person view, do a comprehensive analysis and formulate a plan that takes into account the patient’s goals.”

MEDICATION REVIEWS

“Dr. Ali reviews my medications one by one, assessing whether changes might be needed,” Marilyn says. She credits reduction of a cholesterol medication with relieving nighttime leg cramps.

“We work with a pharmacist to provide maximum benefits with the least amount of medication,” Dr. Ali says. “Many people have long medication lists, but nobody is looking at the whole picture, including drug interactions and side effects.” Polypharmacy reviews can help reduce or eliminate doses, consider other ways to take a drug, track prescriptions and find easier-toopen packaging.

RISK ASSESSMENTS

“Dr. Ali assesses my cognitive abilities, reviews eyesight and hearing, and even conducted a gait analysis test to assess fall risk and balance,” Marilyn says. “No one had ever done this before.”

“Functional assessments like gait