Monday Post

I was thinking this week would be last week for the lockdown, but it seems there is every likely hood that Mumbaikars will be spending more time in lockdown if you go by the yesterday’s statement of   CM of Maharashtra. But can not be sure as Maharashtra govt and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have become quite famous for the flip flops. Even yesterday after CM in his televised statement said that due to present condition in Maharashtra, no flights will be allowed to operate in Maharashtra. But within one hour a cabinet minister of Maharashtra announced that  we will be allowing only 50 flights to operate (instead of planned 200). I fail to understand when Maharashtra govt can allow lakhs of migrant workers to board trains, then what is wrong in allowing 200 flights to operate. The total passenger load may be equivalent to 2 train full of passengers. What it means , Maharashtra govt is giving more value to lives of air travellers than lives of migrant workers travelling by trains. Even when it was shown that there will be stringent rules for air travellers.

Now coming to other topic of the day- Friends have you heard about Geriatics, hint is it is related to medical field.

We all know that for infants we seek out the services of Pediatricians or neonatal specialists. In the western world most of the older population visit a Geriatrician for regular visit. In India it is still a new concept. The fact is that just like the needs of infants and children are different, so is the case with seniors. The issue of the seniors can be unique, and it would need different approach to solve even a straight forward problem related to specific body part. Often, the problem could be a result of few other issues, and diet, exercise, lifestyle changes, mental and physical health etc. Hence, while a specialist may treat the problem, other issue related to it may un addressed. This is where Geriatricians come in, a holistic approach to senior’s health issue.

Who is Geriatrician – He/She is a senior care specialist, trained to assess, diagnose and manage the specialised needs of senior citizens. This is especially true for those cases, where the people may be dealing with multiple issue, each linked to other. The Geriatrician usually works with dieticians, Physiotherapists and more, to so ensure a multipronged approach to ensure the management of the issues. They are specially trained to handle the chronic ailments much better, and they work in tandem with other specialists to make sure that the geriatrics needs are addressed in the proper way. Apart from issue at hand , they also concentrate on the overall mental and physical health and try their level best to provide the seniors with a life of dignity and functional independence.

What would Geriatrician do– When you first start a Geriatric consultation, you may be put through a comprehensive assessment, depending on your age, issues, family and medical history, current medications etc. it covers even your vision issues, hearing problems, dental issues and more. You may have to discuss your daily routine with Geriatrician, who would like to understand even your slightest of difficulties. If you have a problem sleeping or remembering things, or keep having recurring falls, or digestive issues, or taste issues etc. these may be further evaluated. Pain management in case of arthritis or other chronic illnesses or cancer treatment also is taken into account. In short, they talk to you to figure out every possible geriatric syndrome, which can indicate many causes or are indicators leading to potential geriatric problems. This helps them to catch issues early on and treat them to prevent further damage.

How does it benefit a senior-As mentioned above Geriatrics always work in tandem with other specialists. They coordinate with their team to ensure that every problem of yours is addressed fully. This would mean that you can rest assured of the best care and that there is someone who will look into all aspects of you. Otherwise you may be hunting for individual specialists. The teamwork here helps a senior also to understand the problems better, as geriatrician is also able to explain the big picture better. This is always good, otherwise, most seniors are anxious about their problems, as they do not understand the why and what of it. When putting across by Geriatrician, these things make more sense, as they can relate better to the issues and not just  concentrate the issue on the hand. If you are a senior citizen, then it is time to get consultation with Geriatrician, who can provide you long term, all round care. It is good have a regular Geriatric visit, to ensure things are under control.

Now the problem, this is such a new concept in India, and may take many years for Geriatrician becoming common consultants as cardiologists, paediatrician, diabetologist etc. Till the time there are enough Geriatricians in the market , the seniors have to live with the present medical care available.

Friends, hope the content of this blog will be useful.

Awaiting your views/comments/feed backs.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

25^th May 2020