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Old Age Psychiatry guides
21 plain-English, evidence-linked guides in Old Age Psychiatry, with clinical review status shown on each page.
Alzheimer's disease assessment and treatmentAn assessment to find out whether memory and thinking problems are due to Alzheimer's disease, and to start the right support and treatment if they are.Anxiety in older adults (Anxiety disorders in later life)Treatment and support for anxiety in later life — persistent worry, fear or physical tension that is common, often overlooked, and treatable.Assessment for new psychosis in later life (Late-onset and very late-onset psychosis assessment)A careful specialist assessment for an older adult who has developed new hallucinations, delusions or suspiciousness, to find the cause and the safest way to help.Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD))Help for the distress, agitation and changes in behaviour that can come with dementia, looking first for causes and trying non-drug approaches before medicines.Bereavement support for older people (bereavement and grief support for older adults)Support for older people coping with the death of someone close, helping with grief and watching for isolation or depression.Best-interests and care-planning assessment (Best-interests and care-planning assessment under the Mental Capacity Act 2005)An assessment of whether someone can make a specific decision about their care or treatment, and if not, what choice is in their best interests.Capacity to make a will assessment (Testamentary capacity assessment)An independent assessment by a doctor of whether a person has the mental ability to understand and make a valid will.Carer support and advice (support and advice for unpaid carers of older people)Help and advice for people looking after an older relative or friend, including support for their own wellbeing and a carer's assessment.Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) (Cognitive stimulation therapy)A structured, evidence-based programme of themed group activities and discussion that gently exercises memory, thinking and conversation for people with mild-to-moderate dementia.Confusion and delirium assessment (delirium (acute confusional state) assessment)An urgent check to work out why an older person has suddenly become confused, and to find and treat the cause.Dementia medication review (Review of medicines for dementia and its symptoms)An appointment to check whether medicines for dementia and its symptoms are still helping, are causing side effects, and are at the right dose — or should be changed or stopped.Depression in older adults (Depression in later life)Treatment and support for low mood and depression in later life, which is common and treatable — not a normal or unavoidable part of getting older.Frontotemporal dementia assessmentAn assessment to find out whether changes in personality, behaviour or language are caused by frontotemporal dementia, a less common type that often affects younger people.Lasting power of attorney capacity assessment (mental capacity assessment for a lasting power of attorney)An assessment to check whether a person can understand and make the decision to set up a lasting power of attorney.Lewy body dementia assessment (Dementia with Lewy bodies assessment)An assessment to find out whether symptoms such as fluctuating alertness, visual hallucinations and movement problems are caused by dementia with Lewy bodies, a type with an important medication safety warning.Medication review for older people (Structured medication review in older adults)A careful review of all the medicines an older person takes, to keep the ones that help and safely reduce those that may now do more harm than good.Memory and thinking tests (ACE / MoCA) (Cognitive testing (Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination / Montreal Cognitive Assessment))Pen-and-paper thinking tests, such as the ACE-III or MoCA, that measure memory, attention and language to help build a picture of how the brain is working.Memory assessment (memory clinic) (Memory assessment / memory clinic review)A set of appointments and tests that look into memory and thinking problems, to find out what is causing them and what help might be needed.Mixed dementia assessmentAn assessment to find out whether memory and thinking problems are caused by more than one type of dementia at the same time, most often Alzheimer's disease together with vascular dementia.Sleep problems in older adults (management of insomnia and sleep disturbance in older adults)Help for older people who struggle to fall or stay asleep, focusing on causes and proven non-drug approaches before sleeping tablets.Vascular dementia assessmentAn assessment to find out whether memory and thinking problems are caused by reduced blood supply to the brain, and to manage the risk factors behind it.
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