Board Certified
Geriatric Medicine
Peer Reviewed
AGS Standards
Medical Advisory
14 Clinicians
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Content Partner
Reviewed Q1 2026
Updated Feb 2026
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Common conditions, explained clearly
Each entry opens into a medication audit, doctor questions, and drug interaction flags.
Your heart pumps blood through your body with pressure, the way water moves through a hose. When that pressure stays too high for too long, the walls of your blood vessels — and the organs they supply — begin to strain. Most people feel nothing unusual. That's what makes it worth checking.
What the numbers mean
Blood pressure is written as two numbers: 120/80. The top number (systolic) measures pressure when your heart beats. The bottom (diastolic) measures pressure between beats. Readings consistently above 130/80 signal hypertension. In older adults, isolated high systolic pressure is common and just as important to treat.
Insulin is a key that unlocks your cells so they can use sugar for energy. In Type 2 diabetes, the locks stop working well — cells become resistant to insulin's signal. Sugar builds up in your bloodstream instead of fueling your body. Over years, this damages blood vessels, nerves, and organs. The good news: small, consistent changes have real, measurable impact.
What the numbers mean
A1C is the most useful number — it reflects your average blood sugar over three months. Below 7% is generally the target, though many geriatricians prefer 7.5–8% for older adults to avoid dangerous low blood sugar episodes. Ask what target makes sense specifically for you.
Cartilage is the cushioning that sits between bones in your joints — smooth, slippery, and remarkably durable. Osteoarthritis is what happens when that cushion gradually wears thin. Bone begins to press on bone. The joint becomes inflamed, stiff, and painful, especially in the morning or after sitting still. It's the most common joint condition in people over 65, and it's manageable.
What the numbers mean
Osteoarthritis most often affects knees, hips, hands, and spine. X-rays show the structural changes, but pain level doesn't always match what the image shows — some people have dramatic x-ray changes with mild pain, and vice versa. Treatment focuses on function and quality of life, not on reversing the image.
Drug combinations that warrant a conversation
These aren't reasons to stop medications — they're reasons to ask your prescriber whether the combination has been reviewed recently.
Ask for a medication review
Pharmacists are often the most accessible expert for medication interaction questions. Many offer comprehensive medication reviews at no cost. Ask specifically: "Can you look at everything I take together and flag any combinations worth discussing with my doctor?"
Doctors who forward it. Families who found answers.
From geriatricians recommending it to patients, to adult children Googling their parent's diagnosis at midnight.
I forward CareCompass condition pages to patients before follow-up appointments. They arrive with better questions than I've prepared for. That's a sign of genuinely useful patient education.
Dr. Patricia Okafor
Geriatrician
Cleveland Clinic Geriatric Medicine
My mother has five conditions and sees three specialists. This was the first place I found that explained how her medications interact with each other — not just each one separately. I finally feel like I understand her care.
James Whitfield
Son and primary caregiver
Cleveland, OH
I was a high school biology teacher for thirty-two years. I can handle complexity. What I couldn't find anywhere else was someone who respected that intelligence while still being clear. CareCompass does that.
Ruth Bergmann
Retired educator, 71
Managing Type 2 diabetes and hypertension
The drug interaction flags are more clinically nuanced than most resources I'd recommend to patients. I've started using the 'questions to bring to your doctor' lists in my own practice notes.
Dr. Samuel Osei-Bonsu
Clinical Pharmacist
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
My dad kept dismissing his symptoms as 'just getting old.' I showed him the osteoarthritis page and he recognized himself in every paragraph. He called his doctor the next morning. Sometimes people just need permission to take it seriously.
Diane Nakamura
Daughter and caregiver
Portland, OR
At 68, I was drowning in appointments, printouts, and contradictory advice. The medication audit checklist helped me realize I was taking two medications that were working against each other. My cardiologist had no idea I was also on that pain medication.
Robert Tran
Retired civil engineer, 68
Managing three chronic conditions
For clinicians: patient-facing resources you can trust enough to share.
All condition pages are reviewed by our 14-person geriatric advisory board quarterly. Formatted for sharing via patient portal message or printed handout.
14
Advisory clinicians
Q1
Last reviewed 2026