Conditions & Treatments
Geriatric Mental Heath
Einstein offers a multidisciplinary approach, including trauma-focused training, to geropsychiatric care. We offer in- and outpatient settings that are tailored to the individual needs of older adult patients.
Assessment
It is important that family members and primary care physicians actively watch for status changes in older adult patients, as many will not readily come forward with their emotional and behavioral health issues.
Changes in a person's mental health status, such as confusion, anxiety or complications from dementia, warrant immediate attention. During our geriatric mental health evaluation and assessment, Einstein's geropsychiatrists look for and monitor the following:
- If the patient’s medical condition worsens as his or her mental health disorder progresses
- If long-term medications and treatments become ineffective in treating medical or mental health conditions
- If the patient exhibits cognitive disability or memory issues
- If the patient is overly medicated and exhibiting symptoms of dementia due to drug intoxication
The most common geriatric mental health issues we encounter and treat include:
Treatment
Our full-time staff of geropsychiatrists in Philadelphia work closely with patients and families to develop a geriatric mental health treatment plan and assist with planning medications, therapy or both.
We bring a team-based approach to geriatric mental health services and care that includes:
- Board-certified psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Internists to cover mixed medical and psychiatric presentations
- Creative arts therapists
- Licensed and trained counselors
- Licensed social workers
- Psychiatry residents
For older adults suffering from depression, Einstein also offers electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) – often a safer and quicker solution than medication.