ON October 16 and 17, the Philippine College of Geriatric Medicine (PCGM) held its third annual convention with the theme “The Changing Horizon in Geriatric Medicine” at the Century Park Hotel, Manila.
For two days the convention gathered specialists in elderly care to tackle issues encountered by older patients. The organization also invited other allied medical providers, as well as interested persons who are taking care of the elderly.
If there are pediatricians managing medical cases for children and adolescents, there are doctors specifically trained to handle and manage diseases of the elderly; they are called geriatricians.
Geriatrics is now a component society of the Philippine College of Physicians and a specialty society of the Philippine Medical Association. After years of training as Adult Medicine specialists, doctors now may choose to undergo specialty training in Geriatrics. At present, only one hospital offers this kind of training in the Philippines, although the college explores the possibility of opening new training centers.
Older persons are considered as one of the vulnerable sectors of society, who need special care and management. The aging body experiences physiologic changes, which are distinct and requires specialty care. Geriatricians look into these physiologic changes and correlate them with existing acute or chronic diseases experienced by the elderly. They also review medications and note on possible side effects of chronic drug use and interactions, which are very common in this population.
Geriatricians, in general, are very passionate about taking care of our lolo and lola. They manage the elderly in the hospital with other specialists. They offer a unique management, working hand in hand with other health providers in the hospitals. They do home visits of those who are chronically ill and bedridden. The goal of geriatric care is to address diseases appropriately, minimize functional losses, maintain physiologic balance and ensure quality of life as they age.
You may contact a geriatrician at the PCGM office, Room 117 PMA Building, North Edsa, at 384-8923 or e-mail at pcgm2011@yahoo.com.