Geriatric Medicine

Geriatric Medicine

At Clinica Sierra Vista, our Geriatric Medicine team specializes in providing personalized care for older adults. We focus on promoting independence and addressing the unique health challenges that come with aging, ensuring comfort and quality of life.

A healthcare professional wearing a brown sweater uses a stethoscope to examine a patient in a clinical setting. The background shows medical equipment and a neutral-colored wall.
Geriatric Medicine

Focusing on Your Unique Needs

At Clinica Sierra Vista, our Geriatric Medicine team specializes in providing personalized care for older adults. We focus on promoting independence and addressing the unique health challenges that come with aging, ensuring comfort and quality of life.

Services

  • Primary care and chronic disease management: Routine screenings, wellness check-ups, ensuring safe use of multiple medications.
  • Functional and cognitive assessments: Evaluating and managing dementia or memory-related conditions. Assessing mobility, activities of daily living, and fall risk assessment.
  • Specialized geriatric services: Discussing goals of care, advance directives, and end-of-life preferences. Symptom management for serious illnesses.
  • Coordination of care: Supporting safe transitions between hospital, home, or skilled nursing facilities. Assistance with accessing community resources, benefits, and transportation.

Conditions

  • Chronic diseases: Hypertension, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), coronary artery disease and heart failure, osteoarthritis, chronic kidney disease, thyroid disorders
  • Cognitive and neurologic disorders: Dementia including Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), delirium, parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, and peripheral neuropathy
  • Mental and behavioral health: Depression, anxiety, sleep disorders including insomnia, social isolation and loneliness, substance use disorders
  • Functional and mobility issues: Falls and fall-related injuries, balance and gait disorders, frailty and sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss), chronic pain management
  • Medication management: Polypharmacy and adverse drug reactions
  • Other age-related concerns: Advance care planning and end-of-life discussions, incontinence (urinary and fecal), pressure ulcers and wound care, cancer screening, sexual health, and menopause-related concerns

FAQs

What Is Geriatric Medicine?

Geriatric medicine is a medical specialty focused on the care of older adults. It aims to improve health, maintain independence and address age-related conditions like chronic diseases, mobility issues, and memory concerns.

When Should I See a Geriatrician?

You may benefit from seeing a geriatrician if you are experiencing multiple chronic conditions, memory issues, frequent falls, medication challenges, or if you want specialized care tailored to aging.

How Is Geriatric Care Different From Regular Primary Care?

While both provide essential healthcare, geriatric care focuses specifically on the unique needs of older adults, including managing complex medical issues, coordinating care, and addressing functional and cognitive challenges.

Program Objectives

  • At least 80% of interns complete program/degree requirements within 13.5 months (150% of planned program length).
  • Of graduates who seek employment, at least 100% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
  • At least 80% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
  • The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
  • 80% of employers, who return surveys, rate graduates as “satisfactory” or “excellent” for ability to work effectively with multicultural populations from diverse backgrounds.
  • 90% of program graduates work as entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists in community nutrition.
  • 90% of graduates work in Central Valley community programs for at least two years after graduation.

Do I Qualify for WIC?

WIC is a program that helps families with food and nutrition. Call us at (661) 862-5422 or send a message, and we’ll help you see if you qualify.

Here are some ways you might qualify:

  • You are pregnant
  • You are breastfeeding a baby who is less than one year old
  • You had a baby in the last six months
  • You have a child who is under the age of five
  • You experienced a loss of pregnancy or had a termination

You also need to think about your family’s income. Here are the monthly income limits for family sizes:

  • 1 Person: $2,413
  • 2 Persons: $3,261
  • 3 Persons: $4,109
  • 4 Persons: $4,957
  • 5 Persons: $5,805
  • More than 5 Persons: Add $848 for each additional member

This income limit is based on 185% of the Federal Poverty Level, and these amounts will be effective from April 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

Also, if you’re pregnant, the baby counts as part of your family size when figuring out if you qualify.

Get Care Right Away

Need care right away? Our health centers offer same-day appointments, and our walk-in clinics also offer extended hours. Whether you schedule ahead or stop by, we’re here to deliver fast, high-quality care when and where you need it.

Visit Your Preferred Location

We make it easy to choose the clinic that works best for you. Keep in mind that your preferred location may mean seeing a different provider. Either way, you’ll receive compassionate, expert care from our trusted team, no matter which clinic you visit.

Schedule Your Appointment on MyChart:

See Your Preferred Provider

Our providers work across multiple clinics to make care accessible, so their location may vary based on availability. No matter where you’re seen, you can trust our dedicated team to deliver the high-quality care you deserve.

Schedule Your Appointment on MyChart: