Geriatric Medicine
Addressing Problems of Aging, Including Dementia, Geriatric Depression, Frailty, Falls, and Mobility
As we age, our minds and bodies change in ways that can have a profound effect on quality of life. Age-related conditions are often complex and may require specialized medical care.
SLUCare Physician Group geriatric specialists are internationally recognized experts on aging. As physician researchers and educators with Saint Louis University School of Medicine, our doctors have developed geriatric assessment tools and techniques used throughout the world. Our team understands the biology of aging, the relationship between mental and physical changes, and the potential impact of taking numerous medications.
The Gateway Geriatric Education Center offers CST for patients with dementia, specializing in working with the elderly.
Watch and learn about our group of providers who shape the way geriatric medicine is practiced around the world.
Who Should See a Geriatrician?
Adults age 65 and older who:
- Have complex medical conditions
- Take numerous medications
- Struggle with memory problems or difficulty thinking
- Feel chronically sad or depressed
- Experience fainting or falls
- Lose weight unintentionally
- Falter in daily activities (e.g., wearing shoes that don't match)
What to Expect from Your Visit
During the initial consultation with a SLUCare geriatrician, patients receive a comprehensive geriatric assessment to gain an overall understanding of the patient's health. The exam lasts 60-90 minutes and includes:
- Memory test
- Frailty screening
- Nutrition assessment
- Check of muscle strength, gait and balance
- Discussion of existing health conditions
- Review of medications
- Depression screening
It is helpful for a family member or trusted friend to accompany the patient for this visit and any subsequent office visits.
Patients may be advised to follow up with their primary care physician or asked to return for additional care with our geriatrics team.
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy
Today, doctors can prescribe medications to help ease the symptoms of patients struggling with mild to moderate dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. But researchers have also discovered a non-pharmaceutical way to achieve comparable results in patients.
Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) is a treatment method designed to actively engage people with dementia through a series of guided, themed group activities. Sessions promote thinking and discussion in a supportive, non-threatening environment. Research shows CST positively impacts language skills, such as naming, word-finding and comprehension, while also improving mood, confidence and concentration.
Patients in the SLUCare Physician Group CST program attend 14 or more small group sessions, individual CST sessions, and a maintenance program following CST group participation. To learn more about our cognitive stimulation therapy program, call us at 314-617-2655.
SLUCare Geriatric Medicine Locations
Center for Specialized Medicine
1225 South Grand, Second Floor
St. Louis, MO 63104
314-617-2655
Des Peres Medical Arts Pavilion II
2315 Dougherty Ferry Road, Ste 205
St. Louis, MO 63122
314-617-2230