Dr. Kiddy Klair decided to move to the area to pursue her passion for geriatric care. Learn about her vision for older adults.
What brought you to Headwaters?
I have been a locum doctor at Headwaters filling in for regular Internal Medicine doctors since August 2021.I started by picking up a few weekend call shifts. However, I always wanted to do more for the community. I have particular interest to help the seniors community, so I decided to give up my job in Toronto and my hour-long commute (on a good day), move to the area and join Headwaters fulltime to pursue my interests.
What do you do?
I am an internist, a doctor who specializes in Internal Medicine, and a specialist of geriatrics, otherwise called a geriatrician.As a geriatrician, I specialize in the care of those over the age of 65.I listen to my patients and from our conversation, I create a plan fit to their individual needs. My main goal is to promote healthy aging and longevity in a world of unexpected surprises.
Can you tell me more about your specialty in geriatric care? How does it affect patient care?
As a geriatrician, you see patients for a variety of concerns, such as memory, falls, dementia, medication management and many related issues.
I am very passionate about the care of older adults and I want to improve the care of our geriatric community. My approach is to offer individualized care that supports their ability to continue living at home. Partnering with older adults so that they have a voice in their care is also important.
Each older adult is unique for their stories, experiences. They deserve to live their best lives with the ability to meet their goals, and on their terms.
According to our Clinical Priority Plan, the older adult population is one of the fastest growing groups in Dufferin County-Caledon. How can older adults have better access to care?
I am planning to build a roster of patients by first seeing them as admitted patients at the hospital. In this first step, patients take away an individualized care plan.
From there, my vision is to continue caring for older adults in the community in an outpatient geriatrics clinic. This will support their ability to continue living and thriving at home.
Eventually, I aspire to operate a geriatric day hospital. Here, older adults can come in for greater levels of care, education and patient engagement. This means half-day clinics and medical attention from a wide range of health professionals, all while being supported by an on-site geriatrician.
How do you envision the role(s) that families and caregivers play in supporting geriatric care?
Families and caregivers play an important role as communicators to our geriatric patients. They can empower patients so that patients can have a voice in their care.
Collaborating with families and caregivers becomes key to success. When they are involved in care planning, there is greater openness, understanding and education.
Why do you love your job?
I love to listen to the stories my patients have about their lives. They all have had different paths and journeys that brought them to where they are today. We live in a world where everything is so rushed. As one of my patients reminded me, sometimes it is nice to “stop and smell the roses.”
Having grown up with a close relationship with my grandparents, it is easy for me to want older adults to live happy and comfortable lives. I love that I can work with a group that has so much knowledge to offer. I’m lucky enough to be in a position to hear all about it.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know about geriatric care at Headwaters and in the community?
Many might be surprised to know that geriatric care is about more than managing dementia.
In fact, geriatric care can start even earlier than 65. When we engage people with prevention education, they can start a healthy lifestyle at an earlier stage. I'm very passionate about this because it means older adults can have healthier, stronger and independent lives. While growing old is inevitable, being healthy now means that they can take control of their health long before they need geriatric care.
I’d also like people to remember that family involvement is key to success of a care plan. This is because family involvement helps our patients feel strong and independent. Together we can help older adults live long and healthy lives.