Geriatrics is medicine designed for the whole of later life
Just as children see pediatricians, older adults benefit from a physician trained in how health, memory, mobility, and medications change with age.
What is a geriatrician?A physician with added training in the care of older adults
Geriatricians complete residency in internal or family medicine, then additional fellowship training. They are trained in how the body changes with aging, how to care for multiple medical conditions occurring at the same time, how to plan for and manage symptoms in advanced illness, and how to navigate care across the health care system. They are experts in the conditions that often travel together in later life, and in how treatments affect an older body differently.
Rather than treating each diagnosis on its own, a geriatrician looks at the whole picture: what matters most to you, how you are moving and thinking, and whether every medication is still helping. They are the experts in aging and in care that has become complex. Prather Medicine makes that expert care available to you.
How we think about careThe 4Ms of Age-Friendly Care
A framework from the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative that guides every visit.
What Matters
Your goals and priorities shape the plan, not the other way around.
Medication
Using only what helps, and avoiding what may cause harm.
Mentation
Caring for memory, mood, and clear thinking, including delirium prevention.
What this means for youYou want to stay well, stay at home, and keep doing what matters to you.
When medications multiply, memory starts to shift, or a fall shakes your confidence, care can feel rushed and scattered, and it’s hard to know who is looking at the whole picture. You shouldn’t have to piece it together alone. Without someone looking at the whole picture, small problems can quietly add up: a new prescription that doesn’t mix well with another, a change in memory that goes unexplained, a fall that leads to a hospital stay. Families end up making hard decisions in a hurry, without the information they need.
Our Prather Medicine team uses the 4Ms to identify how every part of your health fits together, so you have a clear plan, fewer surprises, and a doctor who truly knows you and your family. With the 4Ms as a guide, care stays focused on you. Medications are simplified. Memory and mood are taken seriously. Mobility is optimized so you can stay steady and independent. And every recommendation is measured against what matters most to you.
The result is more confidence, more time at home, and more of the life you want to keep living.
Mobility
Moving safely every day to protect independence.
“Good care begins with one question: what matters most to you? Every plan should be built around your answer.”
Is it time?When to See a Geriatrician
If any of these sound familiar, a short call is the easiest way to know whether we can help.
Medications
Taking five or more medications, or seeing several specialists
Strength & mobility
A fall, a near-fall, or new trouble with balance
Unplanned weight loss, weakness, or growing frailty
Memory & mood
Changes in memory, thinking, mood, or behavior
Care & support
A recent hospital stay or new diagnosis
Looking for a second opinion about a new diagnosis or how multiple pieces come together
Living with advanced illness and needing support to improve symptoms and quality of life
Wanting to stay at home, avoid hospitalizations, or delay a move to another level of care
A family caregiver who feels stretched thin
Connect with Care
Schedule a complimentary 15-minute introductory call to learn if Prather Medicine is the right fit. There is no obligation.