How to Prepare for a Geriatrician Appointment

What Does a Geriatrician Do?

A geriatrician is a medical specialist who focuses on the health of older adults — typically people over 65, and especially those over 75 or managing multiple chronic conditions simultaneously. Unlike a specialist who focuses on a single organ system, a geriatrician takes a whole-person approach: physical health, mental health, cognitive function, mobility, nutrition, social support, and the combined effect of multiple medications are all assessed and weighed together.

You may be referred to a geriatrician by your GP (primary care physician in North America) for a number of reasons: recurrent falls, unexplained weight loss, increasing confusion or memory problems, difficulty managing multiple conditions and medications, or a recent hospitalisation where complex care planning is needed after discharge.

In Singapore, geriatric services are available at restructured hospitals (SGH, NUH, CGH) and through community geriatric assessment teams that visit patients at home or in care facilities. In Australia, geriatricians are accessed via GP referral through the Medicare system. In the US, geriatric specialists practice in hospital systems, outpatient clinics, and some primary care networks — check that your specialist accepts your insurance before booking.

Build Your Complete Medication List

The single most important thing you can prepare before a geriatric appointment is a full and accurate medication list. Polypharmacy — taking five or more medications simultaneously — is one of the leading contributors to falls, cognitive decline, and hospitalisation in older adults, and the geriatrician’s first clinical task is often a polypharmacy review to identify drugs that are interacting, duplicating, or no longer needed.

List every medication by name, dose, and frequency — prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications (pain relief, antacids, antihistamines, sleep aids), vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, and anything taken only occasionally. Do not assume a supplement is too minor to mention: St John’s Wort, ginkgo biloba, and high-dose fish oil all interact with common medications used in older adults.

A weekly pill organiser is helpful here beyond just daily management — it gives the geriatrician an instant visual of the full medication load. A clearly organised weekly organiser like the AUVON Weekly Pill Organiser (with AM/PM compartments) lets you lay out the current regimen at a glance, which often prompts a productive conversation about which medications have been added over the years without a formal review. (Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

Document Functional and Cognitive Changes

Geriatricians use structured tools to assess function and cognition during the appointment, but your observations — or those of a family member or carer — provide context that no clinical test can capture. Before the appointment, write down specific examples rather than general impressions.

For physical function, note: Has the person had any falls in the past three months? If so, how many, where, what time of day, and did they lose consciousness? Are there activities they used to do independently that now require help — cooking, bathing, managing finances, driving? Has their walking changed — slower, shuffling, or using furniture for support?

For cognitive function, note: Are there episodes of confusion, particularly in the evening? Has there been noticeable memory loss for recent events? Are there difficulties following conversations, finding words, or managing tasks that were previously routine?

A health journal — such as the Doctor Appointment Journal — is useful for recording these observations in the weeks before the consultation, with dates and specific examples. A written record is far more useful to a geriatrician than an oral summary that compresses months of change into a few sentences. (Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

Prepare for a Functional Assessment

Geriatric consultations typically include standardised assessment tools that you may not encounter in other specialist appointments. Knowing what to expect prevents anxiety or confusion during the visit.

Common assessments include: a cognitive screening test (MMSE or MoCA) — a brief paper-and-pen test with questions, memory tasks, and drawing; the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test — stand from a chair, walk three metres, turn, walk back, and sit; grip strength measurement via a handheld dynamometer; and an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) questionnaire covering bathing, dressing, toileting, transfers, continence, and feeding.

Wear comfortable, practical footwear for the appointment — not slippers — so the TUG test reflects your usual walking ability. If you normally use a walking aid, bring it.

Questions to Ask the Geriatrician

Use the consultation to address both the immediate concerns that triggered the referral and longer-term care planning. Consider preparing:

• Are there any medications on my current list that you recommend stopping or reducing?
• What is your assessment of fall risk, and what changes would most reduce it?
• Should I have a home safety assessment — grab rails, non-slip mats, better lighting?
• Are the cognitive changes you have observed consistent with normal ageing, mild cognitive impairment, or something that needs further investigation?
• What allied health services would help — physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietitian, social worker?
• What vaccinations should be up to date for someone my age?
• How will care be coordinated between you, my GP, and any other specialists?

What to Expect During the Consultation

A first geriatric consultation is longer than a standard specialist appointment — often 45 to 60 minutes. If possible, bring a family member or trusted carer. Geriatricians actively encourage this: family members provide observations the patient may not be aware of or may minimise, and care planning decisions often involve the wider support network.

The geriatrician will take a detailed history, conduct the assessments described above, review your medication list, and may examine skin integrity, oral health, and nutritional status as part of a frailty assessment. You will not leave with a single diagnosis in most cases — the outcome is usually a prioritised care plan and referrals to allied health services.

After the Appointment — Care Planning and Follow-Up

After a geriatric assessment, the specialist typically writes a comprehensive letter to your GP summarising findings, recommendations, and referrals. Ask the clinic to share a copy with you directly rather than routing it only through the GP.

Follow-up frequency depends on complexity. Stable patients may be reviewed every six to twelve months; those with active issues may be seen more frequently. In Singapore, community nurse and allied health follow-up may be arranged through the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC). In Australia, a Home Care Package may be activated if significant support needs are identified. In the US, care manager coordination may be covered under Medicare’s Chronic Care Management programme.

If a polypharmacy review resulted in medications being stopped, allow two to four weeks for the person to adjust and report any new symptoms to the GP. Stopping a medication that has been taken for years can occasionally trigger withdrawal effects or reveal symptoms that were previously masked.

This guide is for preparation purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your doctor or specialist regarding your individual health circumstances. Read our full disclaimer.