When is it the right time to ask for a geriatrician?

Given an aging population coupled with a shortage of people to care for them, it is essential to understand the patient qualities for which geriatric expertise would be most beneficial. For the practicing physician attempting to understand the timing of geriatric-care provision, this article reviews the relevant literature, which suggests geriatric expertise should be considered for the patients who benefit most: any patient aged ≥ 85 years, or adults aged < 85 years with complex multimorbidity, frailty, or other geriatric conditions; disability or dementia; or need for palliative or end-of-life care.