Make the best of aging

If you’re a baby boomer, but your boom is being replaced by creaks, pops or more serious health concerns, geriatricians at Rush University Medical Center are ready to help you maintain vitality as you head into your 50s, 60s and beyond.

“Taking care of yourself is a lifelong endeavor, and many age-related conditions begin during middle age,” says Martin Gorbien, MD, director of geriatric medicine at Rush. “We have the most comprehensive services in the area for adults of all ages.”

When the time is right

You may not think a geriatrician has anything to offer you. But just as pediatricians specialize in the care of children, geriatricians specialize in aging. They understand the changes we all experience as we age and the additional concerns that we may have.

“In addition to taking care of patients with typical ‘geriatric’ symptoms, we also enjoy taking care of patients who are interested in healthy aging,” says Gorbien, who specializes in primary care for older adults. “There are plenty of older people who are fit and active and want to stay that way as long as possible.”

The geriatricians at Rush can reassure you that a new symptom you have may be part of normal aging and help you overcome obstacles to better health and well-being. They can also help you set and meet goals for healthy nutrition and exercise.

When you need more

As experts in the aging process, specialists at Rush provide a more comprehensive view of your health.

Philip Bonomi, MD, director of oncology at Rush, says geriatricians make a vital difference to his patients.

“Specialists such as myself take care of only one aspect of a person’s care,” says Bonomi. “Yet some may have other issues, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Geriatricians make sure all the treatments these patients get are compatible.”

Your geriatrician will oversee your care and help make sure you have the best treatment plan for your needs, including monitoring your prescriptions to avoid drug interactions and consulting with your other physicians.

“Many people become frustrated by fragmented care and running from one specialist to another,” says Gorbien. “We try to minimize the stress.”

From common to complex

On the Rush campus, you’ll find specialists and subspecialists for virtually every type of disease — from Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis and Parkinson’s disease to treatment of chronic pain and more. And the geriatric medicine program at Rush is consistently ranked among the best in the nation by U.S.News & World Report.

But these accomplishments don’t stop geriatricians at Rush and their colleagues from welcoming even the most common complaints. See your doctor if you or your loved one has a serious disease or condition and for any of the following common age-related issues:

• Concern about medications
• Problems with falling
• Memory loss or confusion
• An unexplained personality change
• Problems with urinary control
• Unexplained weight loss

More than medical care

In addition to acute care treatment and world-class research, Rush offers support groups, personalized care planning and toll-free phone support for older adults, their families and caregivers. And nurses at Rush have earned Magnet status for excellence in nursing — the highest recognition in nursing care by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

When you come to Rush, you’ll always be given extra care and attention and treated like family — with kindness, compassion and respect. To make an appointment with a geriatrician at Rush, call (888) 352-RUSH (7874).