If we have Pediatricians who care for our children, it probably makes sense to have Geriatricians care for our elders. In both cases, it takes a certain kind of person to do the work well.

Seniors are vulnerable to many sorts of illnesses, aches and pains. Unlike young children, they are able to help the doctor discover what's wrong. That's why Geriatricians are usually good listeners.

"A geriatrician is very likely to be interested in what you have to say and to be knowledgable about the usual problems that occur in older people and usually likes to work with families and others that are involved in the care of those older people," said Geriatrician Dr. Patricia Blanchette.

Dr. Blanchette is head of geriatric medicine at the UH School of Medicine.

"And we have done our best here to train people. But there'll never be enough geriatrician specialists to care for all older people," said Blanchette.

It’s especially true because the aging population is growing all the time. And as we said, not every doctor has the right temperament to be a geriatrician.

"Geriatricians are people who like their grandparents and like and enjoy working around and with older people...and are interested in the issues that come up in their lives," said Blanchette.

Even among geriatricians, there may be distinct areas of expertise. Some are best at treating the healthy aging.

"Make sure people get the vaccines that they need, managing medicines so that you get what you need but you don't get too much, you get the right doses," said Blanchette.

In other cases, geriatricians take care of the frail elderly, some of whom may have a hard time getting to the doctor's office - in which case, Dr. Blanchette says the doctor must make accommodations.

"If the patient has a harder time getting to you than you have getting to the patient, you tried to figure out how to get to the patient," said Blanchette.