“Geriatricians Rule, But Who Will Save Our Aging Population?!”
So, you’re getting up there in age and suddenly you’re faced with a laundry list of health issues that even WebMD can’t make sense of. What’s a senior citizen to do? Well, according to some fancy research, you better start hunting for a geriatrician – you know, those elusive doctors who actually specialize in taking care of us old folks.
But here’s the kicker – there are about as many geriatricians in the US as there are unicorns. Seriously, there are only about 7300 of these magical creatures roaming around, which is a measly number considering the growing population of wrinkly individuals in need of their expertise. So good luck trying to snag an appointment with one of these mystical beings.
And don’t even get me started on regular ol’ primary care physicians who are about as clueless as a toddler trying to do brain surgery. Sure, they mean well, but when it comes to the complex health issues that come with aging, they might as well be reading medical advice off the back of a cereal box.
But wait, there’s more! As if the shortage of geriatricians wasn’t bad enough, we’ve got the baby boomers marching towards their golden years like a stampede of grumpy elephants. This means the demand for senior care is about to skyrocket faster than your grandma after she hears there’s a sale on prune juice.
So, what’s the solution to this healthcare conundrum? Well, it’s pretty simple – we need more geriatricians, better training for primary care physicians, and a whole lot of luck to navigate the maze of healthcare for older adults. Because let’s face it, getting older is already hard enough without having to play doctor roulette just to find someone who knows what they’re doing.
In the end, it all boils down to one thing – seniors deserve quality healthcare just like everyone else. So here’s to hoping that the powers that be start taking this issue seriously before we all end up with a prescription for bingo night instead of actual medical treatment. Cheers to aging gracefully, folks. And may the odds be ever in your favor when it comes to finding a doctor who knows their stuff.
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Source: The Washington Post
URL: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/03/17/seniors-health-doctor-geriatrics-shortage/