Senior Care Specialist

What is the overall approach to senior care services?

At the very center of her senior care approach, Loanne B. Tran, MD, MPH emphasizes compassion and sensitivity. Older adults often feel very unsettled having to rely upon increasingly invasive medical care. After a lifetime of caring for others, pursuing career goals and gaining life experience, it is hard to relinquish control and accept changing ability levels. This is why it is vitally important to treat seniors as partners in their own healthcare and empower them to make decisions and pursue options that they believe will have the greatest positive effect.

What type of treatment do senior patients receive?

As patients enter their later years, it becomes increasingly important to come in for more frequent assessments and health screenings. The risk of disease and age-related impairments increases as people age, and staying on top of matters is a great way to minimize the negative impact of any issues that might arise. It is also important to develop a relationship with a good primary care physician, who will be able to recognize any cognitive declines in a timely manner. For some patients who are well into their elder years, bringing trusted loved ones into the process can also be very beneficial.

What happens if a patient is no longer able to live independently?

In some cases, older patients require a level of care that cannot be accomplished in a home setting. They might move into an assisted living facility or a nursing home that offers comprehensive medical care. Such a move does not negate the need to maintain a continuum of care with one’s primary care physician. Regular office visits can ensure that a senior patient is receiving proper care in the residential setting, and can also help families understand their options for medications, rehabilitation services or cognitive care.