The demand for physicians with additional training in care of the elderly and geriatric medicine is growing rapidly as Canadians live longer than ever before. There are innumerable ways to incorporate care of the elderly work into clinical practice in Canada, and enhanced training in care of the elderly allows family physicians to extend and adapt their core competence to meet the needs of their communities.
Family physicians who have completed our program have gone on to pursue a wide range of career activities in many different clinical settings. Some opt to establish a primary care or long-term care practice with or without a geriatric focus and serve as a support, educator, and resource person for geriatric care in their communities. Others choose to pursue focused practice or an academic career in care of the elderly.
Some examples of career opportunities following additional care of the elderly training include:
- Supporting outreach models in the community;
- Offering consultation services in community hospitals or acting as a liaison with consultant geriatricians in larger centres;
- Advising Home Care Programs, long-term care facilities, and governing agencies;
- Serving as a Medical Director, advisory physician, or attending physician in long-term care or other institutional care settings;
- Providing home visits or palliative care services in community and institutional settings;
- Establishing educational initiatives for other physicians and health care workers;
- Becoming a faculty member within an academic Department of Family Medicine.