Geriatric Psychology is the branch of psychology that focuses on the mental health and well-being of older adults. It includes the biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging. Counselors who specialize in geriatric psychology work with people age 65 and over to reduce the symptoms associated with: Depression, Anxiety, Memory loss/Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, etc.
Geriatric psychology is a subfield of psychology and, by definition, the psychological approach to the study of human aging. This field strives to give older adults the best quality of life possible through the examination and treatment of mental illness and physical conditions debated to be prevalent in elderly populations.
How to Find a Geriatric Psychiatrist
As people age, they experience a natural decline in cognitive and physical abilities, especially if they’re dealing with a chronic mental health condition like anxiety or depression. Geriatric psychiatrists are healthcare professionals who specialize in treating the wide range of mental health issues that develop as people grow older. Geriatric psychiatrists can also provide care for other related conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and psychosis. Geriatric psychiatrists are psychiatric doctors focused on treating older adults. They help people cope with stress, address mental health disorders, and manage transitions within their life–from home to a nursing facility, for example.
Your priorities for finding a doctor for your elderly parent should be to find someone who has the ability, knowledge, and experience to treat your aging parent’s condition. You may also want a psychiatrist who is close to home or in the same area as your elderly relative’s nursing or care facility. A person that is looking for help needs to know if the doctor they are seeing has the experience and education to treat their needs. A geriatric psychiatrist can help discuss and treat physical, emotional, and cognitive issues associated with older adults.
The Vital Role of Geriatric Psychology
Geriatric Psychology plays an important role in the health of the elderly population, and is one way that psychologists can focus their work directly on their last stage of life. Clinical counseling is most often associated with newer clients, but Geriatric Psychology combines it with age appropriate treatment to help those that suffer from physical and cognitive issues.
To help people cope and understand illnesses that affect them emotionally and physically, geriatric psychology plays a vital role in the health of the elderly population. For example, in Alzheimer’s disease, the destruction and death of nerve cells causes both cognitive and emotional issues such as memory failure, personality changes, and problems carrying out daily activities. In addition, patients with this illness may often mistake loved ones for someone else they know or they may not realize that they have any personal relationships at all. Thus, in order to help individuals with Alzheimer’s learn more about their lives such as medical history and social network analysis, geriatric psychologists use therapy techniques used in clinical counseling. These are important roles of geriatric psychology which are beneficial to both patients and caregivers alike. Life in old age is very different from life as a young adult. Aging can bring about numerous health issues, and these issues often occur alongside psychological changes. When elderly individuals suffer psychological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, they need to seek advice from geriatric psychology doctors as well. In addition, social problems and/or any other worries the elderly may be experiencing usually require the advice of a counseling psychologist. As a result, the role that geriatric psychology plays in the physical and mental well-being of seniors has become invaluable.
