Serving Our Seniors Magazine: Jan - Mar 2022

A month before I turned age 60, I had an appointment for a “Geriatric Assessment”, also known as a “Successful Aging Visit,” at the Cleveland Clinic. Before I went, I talked to my primary care physician, Kaitlin Schwerer, D.O. I told her I was obtaining the services of a Consultative Geriatrician and asked if she would she work with him. I clarified that the geriatrician would not be my primary care physician. I would need her services for that aspect of my health care. She agreed without any objection. I arranged for this assessment because I want to have the expertise of a geriatrician to help me maintain my health and ability to function independently. Consultative geriatricians have an understanding of the disorders that occur in later life. They are trained to find the cause for a change in health / function in older adults. Additionally, geriatricians will not tell you the problem is due to your chronological age. My Successful Aging Visit started with talking to the doctor. We discussed who I am and my quality of life; my medical history, my current concerns and my ability to sleep. I wasn’t the one filling out the notes regarding my medical history and my sleep habits. These questions were asked of me and it was a thorough, relaxed, conversation. The talk also reviewed my wishes about my care should I become terminally ill or in a permanent unconscious state. During the entire appointment, the doctor was looking at me (not a computer screen) while I was talking. While he was speaking with me, again, it was a face to face conversation. I have noticed changes in my memory since my early/ mid 50’s. This was my primary motivation for making this appointment. I wanted to know if the changes I have noticed in myself are “normal” for my age or is there a reason for concern. I also wanted a baseline, which my doctor can use to compare as I grow older. After my discussion with the doctor, I was then introduced to the Medical Assistant, who checked my vital signs and medications/vitamins. Then she gave me the MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment). To say that I was a stress-free, while My Journey Towards Successful Aging By Sue Daugherty answering this series of questions, would be a lie. It was a challenge. I scored 29 out of 30 (to my surprise). Had I scored less than 24, this geriatrician said he would have recommended brain imaging. For patients who score well on the MoCA, there is another cognitive assessment, which I will take at my next visit. It is a computer based test. The difficulty of the questions increases until the patient starts answering incorrectly. The incorrect answers will trigger the testing to stop. A report is then generated and my doctor and I have a baseline for gauging my memory and cognition as I age. My height and weight My blood pressure My over-the-counter pills/vitamins Testing my ability to think and reason 13