TidalHealth Showcases Expert Geriatric Care in This Week’s Health Beat
SALISBURY, Md. — It’s all about Geriatrics in this week’s Health Beat sponsored by TidalHealth.
Coming from a small village in Catalonia, Spain, Dr. Anna Maria Izquierdo-Porrera made her way to Delmarva and is a new geriatrician at TidalHealth.
“Growing up in (Catalonia) we would always go around and there would be all these old people by the fountains, chatting in the afternoons,” Dr. Izquierdo-Porrera says. “I would just stay there and talk to them. And when I went to medical school, I just realized that I wanted to take care of them.”
Dr. Izquierdo-Porrera says TidalHealth has given her the opportunity to build a geriatric department from scratch.
“When you just, you know, have someone say, ‘Oh, I’m feeling better,’ or ‘What you suggested really made a difference,’ that’s just the reward itself,” Dr. Izquierdo-Porrera says. “So, after 65, you can come and see me.”
Geriatric care ranges wide, specializing in the care of older adults, addressing their physical, emotional, cognitive and even social needs. Geriatricians like Dr. Izquierdo-Porrera have specialized training to manage many complex health issues that older adults face. For some, with age comes a functional decline and more chronic diseases, so Dr. Izquierdo-Porrera has to know how to treat many issues, sometimes with the same patient.
“So, if you have been falling, come to us,” Dr. Izquierdo-Porrera says. “Even if it wasn’t your fault or you didn’t get hurt, come to us because we try to avoid further falls that could cause a break.”
Another issue Dr. Izquierdo-Porrera specializes in is Dementia.
“Anywhere from the beginning of dementia, when you start noticing you don’t remember things, or you’re forgetting to pay your bills on time, come to us and we’ll help you all the way,” Dr. Izquierdo-Porrera says.
“Dementia diagnosis is one of the hardest diagnoses you’ll ever get,” Dr. Izquierdo-Porrera says. “What I have learned in over 30 years of taking care of dementia is that you have a very fulfilling life with dementia. Part of my job is making sure that the life that a patient with dementia lives is as good as it can be.”
Dr. Izquierdo-Porrera encourages her seniors to participate in activities, take up gardening, continue doing their favorite things, so long as they stay active.
“There are these other parts of dementia care where we design a life for you,” Dr. Izquierdo-Porrera says. “We want you to have the best life you can have, because loneliness puts people at risk for a lot of complications; so please do not stop visiting your friends and your family.”
TidalHealth’s primary geriatric care clinic at 560 Riverside Drive in Salisbury is equipped to handle any patient’s particular needs.
Call 410-912-6793 or visit tidalhealth.org to schedule an appointment today.
