Doctor urges families to prioritise geriatric care

A cross-section of staff at the Victoria Island Medical Centre

A medical practitioner and Medical Coordinator at Victoria Island Medical Centre, OneHealth by AXA, Dr Akinlawon Olamide, has urged families caring for ageing parents to adopt structured healthcare plans to help them balance the demands of work, family and caregiving.

Olamide made the call in an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, noting that many adults were increasingly finding themselves responsible for ageing parents while pursuing careers and raising their own children.
He said caring for an elderly parent often involved more than taking the person to the hospital, as families might also have to manage medications, schedule appointments, coordinate specialist consultations and monitor existing health conditions.
According to him, these responsibilities can become particularly challenging for working adults with demanding professional schedules and family commitments.
“Families naturally want the best for their ageing parents, but many are also managing careers, raising children and fulfilling other important responsibilities,” Olamide said.
He said having a structured approach to geriatric care could help families better understand the health needs of older relatives and make informed decisions about their wellbeing.
“Having a structured approach to geriatric care helps provide greater clarity about an older adult’s health needs and enables families to make informed decisions while supporting their loved ones’ well-being,” he added.
Olamide explained that ageing could come with more complex healthcare needs, particularly for people living with chronic health conditions, making regular medical assessments and preventive care important.
“Regular health assessments are important because they help us understand changes in an older person’s health and identify concerns early, before they become more serious,” he said.
He said geriatric care should go beyond treating immediate illnesses to include assessments of an older person’s physical health, mobility, cognitive function, nutrition, medication management and emotional well-being.
“Geriatric care should look at the person as a whole. We have to consider not only their medical conditions, but also their mobility, nutrition, mental well-being, medications and the support available to them,” Olamide said.
The doctor said such assessments could help identify potential health concerns early, monitor changes in an older person’s condition and facilitate timely intervention.
“Families should not wait until there is an emergency before they begin planning for the healthcare needs of their ageing parents. Preventive care allows us to act early and plan better,” he said.
He noted that long working hours and other daily demands could make it difficult for some families to consistently manage the healthcare needs of elderly relatives, stressing the importance of organised care.
Olamide said OneHealth by AXA’s Victoria Island Medical Centre had introduced a Geriatric wellness package aimed at providing comprehensive healthcare support for older adults.
He said the package included vital signs and anthropometric measurements, medical assessments, functional and wellness evaluations, laboratory investigations, cancer screening, social support assessments, post-test reviews and consultations.
The package also provides access to telemedicine services, according to the doctor.
Olamide said proactive healthcare could help older adults maintain their independence, manage existing health conditions and improve their quality of life.
He advised families supporting ageing parents to plan their healthcare needs rather than waiting until medical problems become emergencies.
For adults balancing careers, children and ageing parents, he said structured geriatric care could provide more consistent support while helping families make informed decisions about the health and well-being of their elderly relatives.