A medical practitioner and health coordinator, Dr Akinlawon Olamide, has advised families caring for ageing parents to adopt structured healthcare plans rather than waiting for medical emergencies before seeking help.

Olamide said the growing demands of work, parenting and other family responsibilities can make it difficult for adults to consistently manage the healthcare needs of elderly relatives.

Speaking in an interview with Arewa PUNCH, the doctor explained that caring for an ageing parent involves much more than taking the person to the hospital when they fall ill. Families may also have to keep track of medications, arrange medical appointments, coordinate specialist consultations and monitor existing health conditions.

He said having an organised approach to geriatric care could give families a clearer understanding of an older person's health needs and help them make better-informed decisions about their wellbeing.

According to Olamide, ageing can be accompanied by increasingly complex healthcare needs, particularly among older adults living with chronic conditions. He therefore stressed the importance of regular medical assessments and preventive healthcare.

Rather than focusing only on immediate illnesses, he said comprehensive geriatric care should consider several aspects of an older person's wellbeing, including physical health, mobility, cognitive function, nutrition, medication use and emotional wellbeing.

Olamide noted that regular assessments can help healthcare professionals identify emerging concerns early and allow families to respond before health problems become more serious.

He also advised families not to wait until an elderly relative experiences a medical emergency before developing a healthcare plan.

For adults juggling demanding careers and raising children while caring for ageing parents, he said organised care can make it easier to maintain continuity and ensure that important medical needs are not overlooked.

Olamide, who is the medical coordinator at OneHealth by AXA's Victoria Island Medical Centre, also disclosed that the centre had introduced a Geriatric Wellness Package designed to provide broader healthcare support for older adults.

According to him, the package includes medical assessments, vital-sign and anthropometric measurements, functional and wellness evaluations, laboratory investigations, cancer screening, social-support assessments, post-test reviews and consultations.

He added that telemedicine services were also available as part of the package.

Olamide said proactive healthcare could help older adults maintain their independence, manage existing health conditions and support their overall quality of life.

He therefore encouraged families to begin discussing and planning the healthcare needs of ageing parents before urgent medical situations arise.

As Nigeria's families increasingly balance professional responsibilities with the needs of older relatives, structured geriatric care can provide a more organised way of monitoring elderly family members and making timely healthcare decisions. The doctor emphasised that early planning and regular assessment remain important parts of supporting older adults' health and wellbeing.