Hanshaw Geriatric Center, a division of the Department of Internal Medicine, specializes in care for older adults.

"Our patients will love the convenience," and Shirley M. Neitch, M.D., director of the Hanshaw Center, noting that patients can have specialty consultations, lab work and X-rays on site.

While it has three physicians who specialize in caring for older people, the Hanshaw Geriatric Center is more than just a doctor's office. "What makes us a geriatric clinic is that we take a multidisciplinary approach, "Dr. Neitch said, "We have a social worker, a nurse with a special interest in geriatrics, a physician assistant and a lot of geriatric wellness programs."

People can make appointments directly with the center's physicians, no doctor's referral is needed.

The center's varied and extensive activities are made possible through support from the Huntington Foundation, which provided start-up and ongoing funding for the 10-year-old center. A new service on the horizon is a voluntary driving assessment program, which will help people who suspect they may have problems decide whether they should continue to drive.

Services will continue to evolve, Dr. Neiitch said, "As we head into the 21st century, we anticipate continuing growth of the elderly population, with many experts estimating that fully 20 percent of the population will be over 65 years old", she said. "The Huntington Foundation funding will allow us to address the escalating need for geriatric care and education.