Aged Care Services
Our older patients often have complex medical concerns. At East Ryde Doctors, we have the expertise to manage these problems effectively. We recommend regular reviews for our older patients with complex health concerns.
Our Aged Care Services Include:
1. Annual Comprehensive over 75 year old Health Assessments: We offer and encourage thorough evaluations to assess the health status and needs of our elderly patients, ensuring personalised care plans that promote well-being and quality of life.
At East Ryde Doctors, our Health Assessments consist of a review with our Practice Nurses to gather information from the patients to then discuss with the the patient's usual GP.
Our Older Person’s health assessment is the assessment of:
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a patient’s health and physical, psychological and social function and mood
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preventive health care and education to improve the patient’s health and physical, psychological and social function.
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measurement of the patient's blood pressure, pulse rate and rhythm
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the patient's medication
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the patient's continence
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the patient's immunisation status for influenza, covid, shingles, tetanus and pneumococcus
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the patient's physical function, including the patient's activities of daily living
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whether or not the patient has had a fall in the last 3 months
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on occasion an Electrocardiogram (ECG - a non invasive test that measures the electrical activity of the heart) may be ordered as well as an Ankle-brachial index (ABI - which measures the ratio of blood pressure in the ankle to the blood pressure in the arm)
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the patient's social function, including:
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the availability and adequacy of paid and unpaid help, and
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whether the patient is responsible for caring for another person.
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We recommend once a person turns 75 years old they contact our practice for their Health Assessment, and respond timely to the yearly reminders thereafter our surgery sends out.
2. Chronic Disease Management: Managing chronic conditions is crucial in aging populations. Our team works closely with patients to monitor and manage conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Chronic Kidney disease and more.
3. Medication Management: We provide detailed medication reviews and management to prevent adverse drug interactions and ensure optimal treatment outcomes.
You may on occasion be referred by your GP to your credentialed community pharmacist. Where your pharmacist will conduct a Home Medicine Management Review report for your GP.
A Webster-pack is a convenient, disposable alternative to a drawer of bottles and packets of medications to help people organise and manage their medication and dosage, and ultimately make life easier.
4. Home Visits: Recognising the challenges of mobility for some elderly patients, we offer home visits for patients in the East Ryde area to provide necessary medical care in the comfort of their own homes. Please contact the surgery to see if you are eligible for a home visit.
5. Mental Health Support: Addressing mental health issues is integral to our approach. We offer counselling and support services to help manage conditions like depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment.
6. Care Coordination: We collaborate closely with specialists, hospitals, and other healthcare providers to ensure seamless care transitions and integrated healthcare management for our elderly patients.
7. Incontinence Management
If you have incontinence, please speak to your regularly GP. They can help you with developing a continence management plan. It’s a good way to get help and develop strategies to manage your daily activities. This can include help with things like work, travel and exercise.
If you have permanent and severe incontinence, your GP can advise you about the Continence Aids Payment Scheme, it can help with your costs. The yearly payment can help you buy continence aids.
To read more, click > Continence Aids Payment Scheme, which will help with who can get it and how to apply.
Another option is the National Continence Helpline, it’s a free telephone advisory service staffed by a team of continence nurses. They can give you information and advice with bladder or bowel problems.
The Department of Health also has information you can read about preventing and managing bladder and bowel.
8. Hearing Loss
9. Getting help with Health Costs