With an aging population spread across the Greater New Orleans area, the doctors of Tulane Medicine know there is a desperate need for specialized geriatric care. To address this growing demand, Tulane appointed R. Osvaldo Navia, MD, MBA, a nationally recognized expert in senior care, as Division Chief of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. Navia is establishing the Healthy Aging Clinic, a new geriatric clinic at East Jefferson General Hospital, featuring three board-certified geriatricians with a unique interest in the care of older adults. Providing services in medication management, memory and cognitive health, fall prevention, and all-around whole-person care, the team at Tulane knows that investing in geriatric care is an investment in the well-being of New Orleans families and the future of our community.
Double board-certified in Geriatric Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine, Dr. Navia has developed and led successful programs focused on dementia care, frailty, chronic disease management, caregiver support, and integrated models of care for older adults. His vision for Louisiana is to advance healthy aging through clinical excellence, research, education, and community engagement by focusing on helping older adults remain independent, prevent avoidable hospitalizations, optimize medication management, address memory and cognitive concerns, and support families navigating the challenges of aging. With Dr. Navia’s expertise and leadership, New Orleans is positioning itself as a regional leader in geriatric and age-friendly healthcare.
“Louisiana is home to nearly 775,000 adults aged 65 and older, and that number continues to rise,” says Dr. Navia. “As our population ages, more individuals are facing the challenges of chronic disease, memory loss, frailty, and complex healthcare needs. New Orleans deserves healthcare specifically designed for older adults.”
According to Forbes, there are currently sixty million older adults across the United States and only around 7,300 geriatricians to care for them, making the Healthy Aging Clinic a potentially life-altering offering for the Greater New Orleans area. By navigating the challenges of patients experiencing chronic problems and multiple medications, it can often be overwhelming for patients and their families to understand the next steps forward. Tulane geriatric physicians know that healing is best when patients are treated more like family, allowing them to see the big picture from a diagnostic perspective and discover the root cause of debilitating conditions.
“Specialized geriatric care helps seniors stay healthier, safer, and more independent,” says Dr. Navia. “Through comprehensive assessments and caregiver support, a geriatric practice can improve quality of life while reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and healthcare costs.”
By promoting collaboration among primary care physicians, specialists, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, home health agencies, and caregivers, the Healthy Aging Clinic provides patients and their families with the peace of mind of being surrounded by caregivers eager to educate, empower, and plan for a bright future. Proactive management against the natural wear and tear of aging is not simply helpful; it is necessary to live a complete life. By taking a fresh approach to standard adult medicine, no different than how a pediatrician would treat a child, Tulane geriatricians are helping seniors stay healthier, safer, and more independent across Louisiana and right here at home in Jefferson Parish.
To learn more, go to medicine.tulane.edu/geriatrics-palliative-medicine or call 504-988-5000.
