Not every aged person needs to be treated by a geriatrician, but every physician who treats older people should have had at least some training in geriatrics. Asking about geriatric training should be the first question when deciding whether a doctor is right for your elder.

The following are additional questions to keep in mind when your age-advantaged person is looking for a doctor or deciding whether the current physician is right for the job:

• Is the doctor board certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine?
• Does the doctor have a Certificate of Added Qualification in Geriatric Medicine?
• Is the doctor someone she can talk to and feel comfortable with? Does he welcome her questions, show an interest in her, and have obvious concern for her well-being?
• Does the doctor seek underlying causes for her complaints and prescribe treatments, or does he attribute many of her ailments to "age"? (When a doctor frequently dismisses complaints as just being the result of "old age," the only thing that should be dismissed is the doctor.)
• Are the doctor's services covered by her health insurance plan? If not, can she afford to go to him?
• Does the doctor have privileges in the hospital she prefers to use?
• Are the doctor's visiting hours and location convenient for you?
• Does he have competent backup when he's on vacation?
• Will she have to wait many weeks or even months to get an appointment?
• Will the doctor or his nurse or assistant handle routine questions on the phone?