Geriatric Medicine in Santa Monica
Older adults may live with several conditions, take medications prescribed by different clinicians, and experience changes in balance, memory, energy, sleep, or daily function. Treating each diagnosis separately can miss how those issues affect one another.
Baharvar Medical Clinic provides geriatric medicine in Santa Monica under James J. Baharvar, MD. The focus is the older adult’s complete health picture: medical conditions, medications, function, safety, comfort, and personal priorities. Family or caregiver input may be included when the patient authorizes it.
Care for Health Needs That Become More Connected With Age
A treatment that helps one condition may worsen dizziness, appetite, sleep, or another condition. A new symptom may be caused by illness, medication effects, dehydration, pain, or a change in function. Geriatric medicine looks at these connections before deciding what deserves priority.
The purpose is not to treat age itself. It is to understand how health conditions and treatments affect the patient’s ability to function safely and follow a realistic care plan.
Multiple Conditions and Competing Priorities
An older adult may be managing heart disease, diabetes, thyroid concerns, arthritis, breathing problems, or memory changes at the same time. Recommendations from different specialists can create a complicated schedule or conflicting goals.
A geriatric-focused visit can review the active problems, identify which concerns have the greatest effect on current health, and clarify which recommendations need follow-up. Decisions remain individualized and may require coordination with the patient’s other physicians.
Medication Burden and Side Effects
The risk of side effects and interactions can increase when a patient takes several prescriptions plus over-the-counter medicines or supplements. Dizziness, confusion, sleepiness, appetite changes, constipation, or falls can sometimes be related to medication, although other medical causes must also be considered.
Patients should bring an accurate medication list or the original containers. No medication should be stopped, started, or changed without guidance from an appropriate medical professional.
Mobility Falls and Daily Function
Changes in walking, transfers, bathing, dressing, meal preparation, transportation, or medication use can reveal a need for further evaluation or support. Falls may relate to balance, weakness, vision, blood pressure, pain, medication effects, footwear, or the home environment.
The physician may determine that additional evaluation, therapy, equipment, specialist care, or safety planning is appropriate. The specific plan depends on the patient’s history and examination.
Memory Thinking and Caregiver Concerns
Memory loss is not the only reason an older adult may appear confused. Infection, medication effects, poor sleep, mood changes, hearing impairment, metabolic problems, or sudden illness can contribute. A careful history helps separate a gradual pattern from an acute change.
With the patient’s permission, a family member or caregiver can describe changes noticed at home and help understand the care plan. Sudden confusion, stroke symptoms, or a rapid decline requires urgent medical evaluation.
What to Expect During the Visit
- Identify the patient’s main health and function concerns.
- Review diagnoses, recent changes, hospital visits, and specialist care.
- Reconcile prescriptions, nonprescription medicines, and supplements.
- Discuss mobility, falls, memory, nutrition, sleep, and daily activities when relevant.
- Create follow-up priorities and coordinate additional evaluation when needed.
Contact Baharvar Medical Clinic
Baharvar Medical Clinic does not provide emergency care through this website. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department for chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness, uncontrolled bleeding, a diabetic emergency, or another potentially life-threatening condition.