Life is quite the journey, isn’t it? It’s everyone’s first and only time navigating this messy, crazy, incredible world. So much of it is unexpected, but one of the few sure things in life is that we all get older (unless you don’t? in which case there are OTHER things we need to discuss, Count Dracula).
I work as a board-certified geriatrician in an academic center in California – and I love my job. While the Medicare definition of “older adult” is age 65+, if you really think about, 65 is actually still quite young! Most of my patients are somewhere between ages 80 to 110. And it’s such a privilege to sneak a peak at how differently aging can occur. Some are wheelchair dependent while others are going to the gym and doing physical therapy regularly. Some are still orchestrating family Christmas dinners while others require careful hand-feeding assistance and aspiration precautions to avoid choking. Some have a multitude of family members just minutes away if they need any help, and others live alone with no one to call. Some truly are lucky – but even if we are less lucky, we can try to still be prepared.
And that’s what this blog is all about.
Through these posts, I hope to address some of the less-glamorous realities of aging (sleep changes, cognitive impairment, arthritis, falls, swallowing issues, hearing loss, functional decline, etc., etc.), and what we can do about it. And of course, we’ll also celebrate the joys of aging! I learn a lot from my patients’ experiences and may draw inspiration once in a while from anonymized cases. I also believe in evidence-based practice and may share some published recommendations.
And don’t forget – no matter what age you are, we are all passing through on this planet together. So let’s support one another, ok?
The Millennial Geriatrician 
Leave a comment