Our Geriatric Psychiatry Service is located at NSMC Union Hospital and offers comprehensive care for elderly patients who are experiencing acute psychiatric disorders, including those complicated by medical or neurological problems.
We treat older adults with psychiatric and medical illness as well as patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. We provide patients with the newest approved treatments. Each patient is assigned a geriatric psychiatrist and internist, who work together with psychologists, social workers, mental health assistants, psychiatric nurses and dietitians, as well as occupational and activity therapists. Our patients also have access to the expertise of NSMC’s highly respected medical specialists, as well as physical therapists and language and swallow evaluations.
Some of the warning signs for geriatric psychiatric disorders are:
- Disorientation
- Depression
- Severe memory loss
- Hallucinations
- Increased social withdrawal
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- Sleep disturbances
- Extreme fluctuations in weight
- Loss of interest in appearance or self-care
- Socially inappropriate behavior
- Behavioral disturbances
NSMC Treatment Services for the elderly
Our 17 bed secure inpatient unit at NSMC Union Hospital provides 24-hour per day care for adults 65+. We offer the following treatments in a non-coercive environment:
- Medical management
- Psychopharmacology
- Occupational therapy
- Individual and group therapy
- Family and couples’ therapy
- ECT
- Recreational therapy
- Sensory therapy
- Pet therapy
- Milieu therapy
- Psychological and neuropsychological evaluation
- Spirituality services
- Discharge Planning
NSMC Transitional Care for the elderly
Psychiatric outpatient, partial hospitalization services, and home care programs for the elderly eases the transition for both patients and families. Partners Home Care can also coordinate medication assessments, nursing and rehabilitation therapy.
Learn about geriatric mental health in the Health Library
