Psychology Services for Older Adults
For the past ten years, I have worked one day each week with older adults. I have an Australian Psychological Society (APS) accreditation in treating older patients.
My older clients face challenging transitions such as dealing with age-related illnesses or caring for others with cognitive impairments. They may also experience anxiety about their future, regarding for example, their accommodation options, and how to handle the illness or death of people close to them. My older patients often experience depression around loss of loved ones, loss of a sense of being useful, or loss of function. They sometimes experience anxiety and depression in ways slightly different from other age groups and as a result of years of practice, my therapeutic style aims to accommodate such differences. Similarly, my older patients often struggle with managing physical pain which impacts on them psychologically. Accordingly, my pain management approaches are tailored specifically to my older patients.
Finally, I also observe with my older patients that, at this time of their lives, they have opportunities to reflect on their lives and often appreciate talking through their reflections in a place where they will not be judged nor will their confidences be shared with anyone else. In the course of such sessions, I have witnessed significant improvements in mood as my patients come to terms with their lives, and especially with significant relationships.
