Older Adult Psychiatry
Older Adult Psychiatry Oaktree Connect, here to support people with challenges in later life
Older Adult Psychiatry
Older Adult Mental Health Services are dedicated to support people over the age of 65 years with mental health problems.Oaktree Connect is committed to providing excellent, comprehensive, and timely specialist care to you if you suffer from any mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, or memory problems.
People over 65 years of age can experience mental health problems for a variety of reasons. Some of the common ones are:
Physical health problems: As people age, they may develop physical health problems that can impact their mental health. Chronic pain, mobility issues, and other health problems can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders.
Social isolation: Older adults may be at risk of social isolation, particularly if they have lost a spouse or partner, have limited mobility, or live in a care home. Social isolation can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems.
Life changes: Older adults may experience significant life changes, such as retirement, loss of independence, or the death of a loved one.
Memory problems: Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other cognitive disorders can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems.
Medication: Older adults may be taking multiple medications, which can interact with each other and impact their mental health. Some medication can cause depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems.
Overall, mental health problems in older adults are often the result of a combination of physical, social, and psychological factors. It is important people within this age group tp receive regular mental health screenings and to seek treatment if they experience any mental health problems.
Mental Health Statistics: MHFA England
An early assessment and diagnosis is critical to prevent long term adverse effects of these issues on the general health, memory and quality of life.
Prevalence of Mental Health Issues in 65+ years adults
About 22% of men and 28% of women over 65 years are affected by depression
Lack of Mental Health Services
Around 85% of older adults who are affected by depression receive little to no help at all.
Prevalence of Memory Impairments
44 million live with dementia, predicted to increase twice by 2030.
Older adult psychiatrists are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat disorders common in people over the age of 65. Carers or children will often be asked to attend the assessments as well for a broader perspective while making a diagnosis or in the case that you are not able to communicate clearly.
. We have lots of clinicians, including psychiatrists and psychologists, that you can book an appointment with. You can choose a date and time that suits you best. We aim to raise awareness about and reduce the stigma towards mental health in the older generation.
Do I need support from a private psychiatrist online?
It is natural to be unsure of what professional you would need to see. You may want to seek advice from your GP or social care provider. Typically, these services should be able to give you an indication of the support you may require.
You can also use our Oaktree Assessment Tool (OAT) for advice about which professional would be most relevant for your requirement.
If you are still unsure about which clinician would be most suitable to book an appointment with, do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
Oaktree Connect Treatment Process
At Oaktree, we believe in a multi-disciplinary approach to mental health care so we have a team of psychiatrists, psychologists, and administration to ensure that your experience is streamlined and as simple as possible with us.
At Oaktree Connect, you can have an assessment with a psychiatrist, where they may or may not reach a diagnosis. If a diagnosis is given, they will recommend a treatment plan and might refer you to one of our psychologists.
Assessment
- The concern that you brought to see them
- Your childhood and experiences growing up
- Your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours
- Your current and prior physical health history, including any previous or existing medications or procedures
Diagnosis
The Psychiatrist will use standardised diagnostic criteria, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) or ICD-10, to help guide the diagnostic process given the information that is given to them during the assessment. The DSM-5 and ICD-10 are widely used classification systems that define and describe mental health disorders and their diagnostic criteria.
Investigations
The investigations done for the diagnosis and treatment of adult mental disorders can vary depending on the specific disorder and the individual’s symptoms. However, some common investigations that may be used include:- Laboratory tests: Blood tests, urine tests may be done to check for medical conditions that may be contributing to your symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or vitamin deficiencies
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans, may be done to check for any abnormalities in the brain that may be contributing to your symptoms.
- Psychological assessments: Such as personality tests or cognitive assessments for memory, to help diagnose certain mental health disorders
Treatment
he psychiatrist will develop a care plan in collaboration with the child or young person, their family or carers, tailored to meet the individual’s needs. It may include a range of treatments such as:- Medication: In some cases, medication may be prescribed to help manage symptoms of mental health difficulties, such as depression, anxiety or ADHD.
- Psychological therapies: These are evidence-based psychological therapies, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), family therapy, which can help children and young people to manage their mental health difficulties.
- Support for families and carers: The practitioner will offer guidance to families and carers, to better understand and manage their loved one’s mental health difficulties.
Referral
Following on from the completion of your assessment, you will receive a report from the clinician within 7-10 working days. The report is likely to include many aspects discussed during the assessment and will conclude with the diagnosis and treatment plan (if they were given). With your consent, the report can be shared with your GP. Referral to other services: Your Psychiatrist may refer you to another practitioner like a psychologist, if additional treatment is needed.
Ongoing care
After a diagnosis of a mental disorder, a child or adolescent may receive ongoing care from a psychiatrist. The type and frequency of ongoing care will depend on the individual needs of the child or adolescent and the severity of their mental health condition. Some examples of ongoing care that you may receive from a psychiatrist include:- Medication management: the psychiatrist will monitor the effectiveness of the medication and adjust the dosage or type of medication as needed.
- Psychotherapy: They may refer you to a therapist.
- Support for families: They may recommend support for you or your family to help them understand and cope with their loved one’s mental health condition.
- Regular Follow ups: The psychiatrist may schedule regular appointments to monitor their progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed.
Our Mental Health Assessment & Treatment Services
At Oaktree Connect, we offer a wide range of psychiatric assessments online and treatments for several disorders. See below for information about specific disorders and their assessments.
Some of the disorders our clinicians are trained to assess in older people are dementia, PTSD, and depression. These are likely to present in later adulthood, due to changes in living circumstances, bereavement, or isolation. Our experienced older adult mental health team will help if you or your loved one is suffering from one or more of the following disorders.
The disorders listed below are not an exhaustive list that our clinicians are able to assess and treat. If what you are looking for is not shown above, contact us and we will respond to your enquiry within one working day.
Our psychologists also provide treatment for psychological issues common in older people, such as substance misuse issues, and addiction, for instance.