Understanding & Responding to Serious Mental Illness in Older Adults

There are multiple psychiatric conditions that co-exist with dementia in the elderly.

Some are primary conditions while others are secondary to dementia.

Assessment tools include a thorough evaluation, lab and imaging studies, testing, and collateral report from family/caregivers. There are many possible treatments including pharmacological, behavioral, and educational interventions both for the individuals and their caregivers. This presentation will examine the origins of psychoses, delusions, and hallucinations in older adults, the differential diagnosis process, and various treatment approaches to working with this population and with their caregivers.