Not every physician chooses to focus on caring for disabled elders. Physicians who work with this population must value chronic medical and disability care and be able to work closely with the patient, family, caregivers and other professionals to provide the best care. There are also physiological differences in the elderly population that must be taken into account in treating and prescribing medications. Some health centers may be lucky to have on staff some of the scarce group of physicians who are sub-boarded in geriatric medicine. Others will have internists or family practitioners providing care to the disabled.
