Geriatric Pulmonology in Practice: A Practicum Perspective From Assisted Living Facilities

Presenter: Ella Friner, Global Public Health Scholars

---

---

I worked with Dr. Gorbaty, a Geriatrician, as he conducted house calls and visited assisted living homes. Throughout the internship we conducted regular check ups on elderly patients and some mentally ill elderly patients as well. For some patients, we visited them in their homes because they are unable to attend a regular doctors office for an appointment. These people are able to live at home still because of someone who cares for them. We also visited assisted living homes for the people who cannot live in their own homes and need assistance. All of these people experience "hardships" getting to a regular doctors office and therefore Dr. Gorbaty visits them at home or where they live. Throughout this process I learned a lot about house calls, which is a non-traditional way of healthcare in today's time. I also learned about assisted living homes and how they work. The public health connection with this internship is that there are many people who experience hardships and are unable to receive or attend healthcare near them, which Dr. Gorbaty helps solve.