Geriatric Psychiatry

The three D's of geriatric psychiatry are delirium, dementia, and depression and they represent some of the most common and challenging diagnoses for older adults.

• Delirium - is a state of mental confusion that can happen if you become medically unwell. It can be caused by medical problems, surgery and medications. Symptoms of delirium include a reduced awareness of your environment, poor thinking skills, behavioural changes and emotional disturbances.
• Dementia - is a set of symptoms that over time can affect memory, problem-solving, language and behaviour. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia.
• Depression and anxiety - is feeling persistently sad for more than just a few days. Symptoms of depression include lasting feelings of unhappiness and hopelessness, disinterest in things you used to enjoy and feeling very tearful. Physical symptoms include feeling constantly tired, poor sleep, no appetite or sex drive, and various aches and pains. Many people with depression also have symptoms of anxiety such as feeling tense, nervous and worrying, a more noticeable heartbeat and chest pains.

These three diagnoses have a great deal of overlap, can exist simultaneously in the same patient, and often confer increased risk for each other.

The most common mental health condition in older people is depression, affecting 22% of men and 28% of women aged 65 or over, followed by anxiety¹.

The costs of geriatric psychiatry will depend on your chosen healthcare specialist, your condition and your recommended treatment plan.

You will receive a formal quotation price for your geriatric psychiatry following a consultation with one of our expert geriatric psychiatrists. This formal quote will be valid for 60 days.

Ramsay is recognised by all major medical insurers. Medical insurance policies may cover geriatric psychiatry. We advise you to obtain written authorisation from your insurance provider before your geriatric psychiatry if you wish to pay this way.

We have a number of finance options if you are paying for your geriatric psychiatry yourself. These include:

•          Interest-free finance – requires no deposit and you can make monthly instalments at 0% interest.

•          All-inclusive Total Care – is a one-off payment at a pre-agreed price.

•          Pay as you go – a flexible funding option so you can pay for your geriatric psychiatry costs as and when they arise.

The recovery process of a geriatric psychiatry will depend on the type and extent of mental illness, if a patient has a chronic physical illness, the patient’s receptiveness to treatment and their self-management techniques, and their self-identity and social support network. Early detection and treatment in elderly patients can significantly improve outcomes.

Delirium usually gets better when the cause is treated. For example, a chest infection will be treated with antibiotics. Patients with delirium may get better quickly, but sometimes it can take several days, or weeks, and leave vivid memories.

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for dementia. However, there are drugs and therapies that can lessen a patient’s symptoms. Therapies can include talking therapies, occupational therapy to make the home safer and teach coping behaviours and how to simplify tasks, and alternative therapies that treat conditions related to dementia, such as sleep problems or agitation.

For depression, each person's recovery is different. Some patients recover in a few weeks or months, whilst others have depression as a long-term illness. Most people diagnosed with depression who stick with a treatment plan, communicate with their doctor about any issues, engage in self-care and seek social support are able to start to feel better and function normally again.

Our experienced and compassionate geriatric psychiatrists are highly skilled in addressing many late-life psychiatric syndromes and mental health conditions that affect older adults. These include anxiety, depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s, delirium, mood disorders, psychoses, alcohol and substance abuse, loss and grief, personality disorders and sleep disturbances.

Our geriatric psychiatry treatment plans are highly personalised. They often require an interdisciplinary support team of psychiatrists, geriatric specialists, social workers, and other clinicians to help treat chronic physical conditions. You can rest assured that geriatric psychiatry at Ramsay will take a holistic view and provide comprehensive support and treatment to promote a better quality of life and health and mental wellbeing.