Geriatric Medicine & Aging

The Division of Geriatric Medicine and Aging at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital provides older adults with medical, functional, cognitive, and psychosocial care, as well as other support services to promote optimum health in later years. We also provide support for the caregivers of older adults.

A Team Approach

Our interdisciplinary team includes fellowship-trained board-certified geriatricians, as well as nurse practitioners, social workers, and others who specialize in the care of frailer, older adults. We also collaborate with subspecialty physicians and other clinicians to offer comprehensive care.

Comprehensive Expertise

Allen Hospital's geriatric medicine clinicians are specialty-trained in issues of aging, including arthritis, balance problems and falls, diabetes, frailty, hypertension, dementia, pain management, function, urinary problems, and supportive and end-of-life care.

A Full Suite of Services

Geriatrics and Aging Services include coordinated, specialized programs for older adults through outreach programs in the community. We provide older adults with the diagnostic services, medical and treatment, and continued support necessary to preserve optimum health. We offer clinical services in both the inpatient and outpatient settings and include local long-term care facilities.

Inpatient Service

Patients in our practice requiring hospitalization are admitted to the Geriatrics Inpatient Service, where care is directed by our team of doctors, nurse practitioners, and social workers. This assures that important information about each patient's care is available and transmitted appropriately at the time of admission and discharge. We work closely with other staff to care for each patient. A major goal of the geriatric team is to prevent or minimize common problems in hospitalized older adults and to define the goals of care.

Consultation Service

Many vulnerable elderly patients admitted to the hospital by either subspecialty or primary care physicians have specific geriatric issues. The Geriatric Consultation Service is available for older inpatients on any nursing unit at Allen Hospital. Geriatrics clinicians involved in the consultation service are able to address issues common in the elderly, such as incontinence, hospital-induced delirium, dizziness, dementia, polypharmacy (use of multiple medications by a patient), falls, sleep disorders, elder abuse, palliative care, and discharge planning.

Ambulatory Practice

The Allen Geriatrics Ambulatory Practice offers outpatient primary care and consultations. The Practice is located on the third floor (Room 3FW-150) of Allen Hospital and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. (The office is closed from 12 noon to 1 p.m.) We see adults over the age of 70 who have multiple medical, cognitive, functional, and psychosocial issues. Patients are referred for Ambulatory Practice services after a patient stay at Allen Hospital; from a primary care or specialty physician; through local support agencies and organizations; by a case manager; or by self referral. As part of our Geriatrics Residency Program, select patients who are established as patients in our Ambulatory Practice may receive follow-up evaluation in their homes.

A Commitment to Education

One goal of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Aging is to foster geriatric education among members of the healthcare field, as well as in the community. Through our educational programs, we teach physicians, Columbia University medical students, and other clinicians, as well as people in the community, about evidence-based and compassionate ways to care for older adults.

Our Physicians

Our Geriatric Medicine physicians are also on the staff of NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, one of the country's major medical centers. In addition, each of our physicians is a member of the highly regarded ColumbiaDoctors faculty practice. You can experience the level of exceptional care expected from NewYork-Presbyterian in a personal and accessible environment.