Aged Care GP in Wollongong
Our GPs at Illawarra General Practice care for older adults from Wollongong and across the Illawarra, at our Market Street practice and in residential aged care. We help with health assessments, medication reviews, long-term conditions, memory concerns, falls prevention and planning for the future, working with patients, families and carers.
Consultations are bulk billed for patients with a valid Medicare card.
How can a GP help older adults?
Health needs often change as we get older. Your GP can help with:
- Health assessments for people aged 75 and over
- Medication reviews
- Managing long-term conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and COPD
- Falls, mobility and staying independent at home
- Memory concerns and dementia
- Vaccinations recommended for older adults
- Advance care planning
- Palliative care
- GP care for residents of aged care facilities
Health assessments for people aged 75 and over
If you're aged 75 or over, you can have a Medicare-funded health assessment once a year. It's a longer appointment that looks at your overall health and wellbeing, and helps identify anything that may need attention early.
What's included in a 75+ health assessment?
Your GP, often with help from our practice nurse, may review:
- Your medical history and current medications
- Blood pressure, weight, vision and hearing
- Mobility, balance and risk of falls
- Memory and mood
- Continence, nutrition and sleep
- How you're managing at home, and any support you may need
- Your vaccinations
After the assessment, your GP will talk you through the results and agree on any next steps with you.
Medication reviews
Many older adults take several medicines. A regular review with your GP helps make sure each medicine is still needed, the doses are right and there are no unwanted interactions or side effects.
Your GP can also refer you for a Home Medicines Review, where an accredited pharmacist visits you at home to go through your medicines and reports back to your GP.
Please bring all your medicines to your appointment, including vitamins, supplements and anything bought over the counter.
Falls, mobility and staying independent
Your GP can assess your balance, strength and mobility, review medicines that may affect your balance, and talk about ways to reduce your risk of falls at home. Where appropriate, your GP can refer you to a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or other allied health professional.
Memory concerns and dementia
If you or a family member have noticed changes in memory, thinking or behaviour, your GP is a good place to start. Your GP can talk through your concerns, check for other possible causes such as medication side effects or vitamin deficiencies, carry out memory testing and refer you to a geriatrician or memory clinic where appropriate.
For people living with dementia, your GP can provide ongoing care, help manage other health conditions and connect families and carers with support services.
The National Dementia Helpline, run by Dementia Australia, is available on 1800 100 500.
GP care in residential aged care
Our GPs provide medical care for patients living in residential aged care facilities, helping maintain continuity of care when a patient moves into aged care. Please contact our reception team to ask whether we visit your family member's facility or to arrange care.
If your family member lives in residential aged care, registering with MyMedicare through our practice can support regular, planned GP care.
Palliative care
Palliative care supports people living with a life-limiting illness, with a focus on comfort, managing symptoms and quality of life. Our GPs provide palliative care in partnership with patients, families and local palliative care services, and offer support to families and carers.
Planning ahead: advance care planning
Advance care planning helps you think about and record the health care you would want if you became too unwell to make decisions yourself. Your GP can talk this through with you and your family, and explain options such as an advance care directive and appointing an enduring guardian in NSW.
Vaccinations for older adults
Some vaccines are free for older adults under the National Immunisation Program, including:
- Annual flu vaccine for people aged 65 and over
- Shingles vaccine for people aged 65 and over
- Pneumococcal vaccine for people aged 70 and over
Eligibility differs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with some medical conditions. Your GP or practice nurse can check which vaccines are recommended for you.
Support for families, carers and aged care services
Caring for an older family member can be demanding. Your GP can talk with you about support options and, with your family member's consent, keep you involved in their care.
My Aged Care is the starting point for accessing government-funded aged care services, including support at home and residential care. You can contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, and your GP can help with referrals and information where needed.
GP care for older adults at our practice
All our GPs care for older patients. Dr Sapna Aggarwal holds a Diploma in Geriatric Medicine and has a particular interest in the care of older adults.
Dr Sapna Aggarwal
MBBS, MRCGP, Diploma in Geriatric Medicine, BMScFrequently asked questions
People aged 75 and over can have a Medicare-funded health assessment once every 12 months. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can access health assessments from a younger age.
Yes. Consultations, including health assessments, are bulk billed for patients with a valid Medicare card.
Yes. Our GPs provide care for patients in residential aged care facilities. Please contact reception to check whether we visit a particular facility.
Bring all your medicines, including vitamins and supplements, your Medicare card, any recent test results or specialist letters, and your glasses or hearing aids if you use them. You're welcome to bring a family member or carer.
Yes. Your GP can talk through your needs, provide information for My Aged Care and refer you to services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy or a Home Medicines Review.