Geriatrics

Our Approach to Geriatric Care

Our geriatric care team works closely with your doctor and other care providers to create personalized and innovative treatment for complex disease conditions and symptoms related to aging bodies and minds.

Our geriatricians generally work with people over age 65, but also work with patients who may be suffering from pre-maturing mental and physical conditions.

You may have noticed that your body responds differently to medication, and treatments as you age. The lack of effectiveness of various therapies prescribed years ago may also have become apparent. Mature bodies differ from those of younger adults in many ways.

How We Can Help

If symptoms or conditions are affecting your daily living, our geriatricians may be able to help your mobility, cognitive function, emotional or physical pain management. We specialize in geriatric medical consultation and work closely with your existing doctors to build the best solution for you.

Whether you need outpatient care, skilled nursing care or in-patient care through the hospital, nursing home 24/7 care or assisted living, we can help.

IU Health geriatricians have advanced, specialized training and the clinical and research experience to recognize the diverse needs of older patients. We believe that every patient deserves respect, dignity and personalized care that fits their lifestyle and health goals.

We work as a team with all your physicians, specialists and care providers to coordinate and personalize your treatment plan, so you can live life to the fullest.

Why IU Health for Geriatric Care

We are proud to be the only nationally ranked geriatrics program in Indiana, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2019-20 edition of America’s Best Hospitals.

Geriatrics at IU Health leads the way in innovative research, clinical trials, and geriatric health education. We work closely with the IU Center for Aging Research (IU-CAR) and many of our physicians are formally engaged with IU Health and the Center. We also work closely with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services through the OPTIMISTIC Care program focusing on long-term care options.

To help you maximize your quality of life, we offer a wide range of medical, surgical and counseling programs, with an emphasis on:

• Concerns about a current living situation
• Decreased ability to perform daily activities (cognitive or physical)
• Depression and anxiety
• Medication problems or side effects
• Memory loss and confusion
• Osteoporosis and falls
• Poor appetite or weight loss

Geriatric Care Specialties

Senior Health Center

The Senior Health Center treats diseases of aging with an emphasis on memory loss and confusion, depression, anxiety, osteoporosis, falls, multiple chronic illnesses, mobility and decline in function, medicine problems and more.

GRACE Program

GRACE is a home-based Geriatric program aimed at improving the health and quality of patients by working with them in their homes to manage health problems, reduce readmissions, and monitor changing care needs including social services.

ACE (Acute Care of Elders) Program

ACE is an inpatient Geriatric consults program providing services at IU Health Methodist Hospital and IU Health West Hospital. The program is aimed at supplementing inpatient care with an emphasis on key geriatric syndromes, falls, and declines in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)

Nursing Home Service

IU Health Physicians’ geriatricians and nurse practitioners oversee care at several nursing home facilities in and around Indianapolis, with a focus on skilled nursing care and long-term care.