Geriatric Psychiatrist
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Job Description
A geriatric psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues common in older patients.
There are certain mental disorders that occur later in life, such as dementias and Alzheimer’s disease.
Older patients frequently have to deal with multiple health issues simultaneously, including:
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Intense grief over the loss of a spouse or lifetime friends
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Feeling as though they have no purpose or feeling isolated
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Stressing over financial concerns
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Fears of disease, death or fears of injury from accidents, such as falling
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Emotional difficulties related to health issues, such as coping with pain or a devastating disease such as cancer
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Difficulty coping with changes around them
A geriatric psychiatrist is trained to help patients with the above concerns as well as provide diagnosis and treatment for specific mental disorders that may occur at any age, such as:
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Schizophrenia
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Bipolar disorder
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Alcohol/substance abuse
The geriatric psychiatrist begins the process by taking a complete history of the patient’s health, the support system available through the family, the patient’s living situation and general mental status.
They can then order any tests required to aid in determining a diagnosis.
In many cases, the family members are consulted to obtain information about the patient’s situation and to ensure that they understand the diagnosis and are able to follow the treatment plan.
If the family needs assistance to support the patient, the geriatric psychiatrist may also recommend resources that can help.
Responsibilities
Many patients who consult a geriatric psychiatrist are also seeing other health care providers. A geriatric psychiatrist consults with other health care providers to devise a plan to manage other health issues or medications that may be impacting the patient’s mental status.
Geriatric psychiatrists also engage in research, in teaching other psychiatrists and other health care professionals, and consult with businesses and institutions that work to develop medications to treat metal illnesses that affect the elderly.
Skills
A geriatric psychiatrist is a physician who specializes is the human psyche, so they have a long list of skills.
They must be able to engage with people and use their medical expertise to make a comprehensive assessment of patients.
They combine medication along with therapy sessions to develop treatment plans and help people overcome mental disorders.
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Perception |
Psychiatrists must be able to gauge how people react and read their body language to decipher their feelings and predict their actions. They must be able to determine if people could be a risk to themselves or others and to distinguish truths from lies. |
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Reasoning |
Psychiatrists must be able to apply facts and principles to issues to determine conclusions and solve problems. They must use knowledge and logic to find patters in happenings and determine causes and provide solutions. |
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Communication |
Must be very compassionate and able to empathize with a patient's pain and other difficulties. They are able to make people feel comfortable and meet them at their emotional level to humanize themselves and let people know they care. |
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Empathy |
Must be very compassionate and able to empathize with a patient's pain and other difficulties. They are able to make people feel comfortable and meet them at their emotional level to humanize themselves and let people know they care. |
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Stress Management |
Must be emotionally stable and deal with stress effectively, so they can help others who cannot deal with their emotions or stress. Must be a solid foundation and be able to handle stress and separate personal emotion so as to stay objective and be effective in treatment. |
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Ethics |
Psychiatrists must have a solid ethical code and keep sessions with patients confidential as they can greatly affect people's lives. Must know that there could be consequences for error. |
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Open-Mindedness |
Psychiatrists interact with a range of people from all walks of life, therefore they must be open-minded and tolerant of different cultures and circumstances. Since they are in a research field, they must be open to new studies and findings as to adapt with changing times. |
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Patience |
Psychiatrists need to be very patient, because of the long sessions with patients and while doing research to become a better professional. They must understand it takes time to see results and be willing to put in that time. |
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Trustworthiness |
People have to trust psychiatrists. The job is all about inspiring patients to confide in you and trust you with their problems. If you aren't trustworthy, you will never make it as a psychiatrist. |
Working Conditions
Employment opportunities for geriatric psychiatrists may be found in any or all of the following:
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Long-term care facilities
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Private or group practices
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Assisted living centers
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Veteran’s hospitals or general hospitals
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Academic institutions
Geriatric psychiatrists who work in inpatient facilities may have to work on-call, nights and weekend assignments.
A geriatric psychiatrist can greatly improve the quality of life for the patients suffering from mental illnesses and their families.
The work can be challenging and richly rewarding. Varied and multiple health concerns must be considered in the treatment plan when providing care to elderly patients.
Geriatric psychiatrists work in close conjunction with patients and their family members and caregivers.
Salary Outlook
| Estimated Annual Salary | Average Hourly Wage | Positions Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| $182,700.00 | $87.84 | 25,080 |
| Title | Company | Location | Posted |
|---|---|---|---|
| OK City Academic Geriatric | The Medicus Firm | Dallas, TX | 02.18.2019 |
| Academic Geriatric Medicine Position Recruiting for both Outpatient and Inpatient Services One of the few Geriatric Medicine Departments in the Country The Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatric Medicine at the University of... | |||
| Geriatric Psych - Salt Lake | The Medicus Firm | Dallas, TX | 02.18.2019 |
| Live in Park City or Salt Lake City Geriatric Psychiatry Opening Compensation: $300,000 salary plus an aggressive bonus plan. 13-15 patients per day-bonused per patient above 15 Setting: Employed Largest stand-alone adult Psych... | |||
| Physician - Geriatrician / Geriatric Medicine | St Vincent - SCL Health | Billings, MT | 02.15.2019 |
| About Us: St. Vincent Healthcare is part of SCL Health, a faith-based, nonprofit health care organization. Interested in making a difference? Then check us out. Our rich heritage and mission, and our focus on health care... | |||
| Physician - Psychiatrist Child & Adolescent Inpatient, Duluth, MN | Essentia Health | Duluth, MN | 02.15.2019 |
| Education Qualifications: Licensure/Certification Qualifications: SEEKING- CHILD/ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIST-INPATIENT Duluth, Minnesota Essentia Health, headquartered in Duluth, Minn., is an integrated health system serving patients in... | |||
| RN Geriatric Telemetry and Palliative Care Unit Daly 6A | Baystate Medical Center | Springfield, MA | 02.18.2019 |
| Location: Springfield, Massachusetts Regular/Temporary: Regular You will be responsible for: The provision of nursing care to assigned patients in accordance with current BH Standards of Care. Administering and monitoring patient response... | |||
| Behavioral Hlth Counselor | VCU Health System | Richmond, VA | 02.15.2019 |
| - Masters degree is required VCU Health System's IM - Ryan White Program is seeking a full time Behavioral Health Counselor to provide a range of Mental Health services to eligible HIV infected patients in the Infectious Disease clinic.... | |||
| Physician, Psychiatry | Stillwater Medical | Stillwater, OK | 09.05.2018 |
| Seeking a Psychiatrist for Stillwater Medical. If interested, please contact: Nat Cooper, VP of Business Development/Community Outreach nhcooper@stillwater-medical.org 405-742-5911 | |||
| Psych Screener | Marshall Medical Centers | Guntersville, AL | 01.02.2019 |
| The Psychiatric screener will assist the ER physician in the evaluation of the mentally ill patient and relaying information to the Psychiatrist .Providing clinical assessment, treatment, referral and appropriate placement as required for the... | |||
| Respiratory Therapist Req. Num: 5668 Central Peninsula Hospital | Soldotna, AK Respiratory Care Full Time Day Every other weekend. Details: POSITION SUMMARY: Provides respiratory therapies for all ages, including newborn to geriatric patients. Including m | Central Peninsula Hospital | Soldotna, AK | 02.15.2019 |
| Provides respiratory therapies for all ages, including newborn to geriatric patients. Including mechanical ventilator management, arterial blood gas draws and analysis, emergent airway management, med neb delivery, EKG's and other diagnostics.... | |||
| Respiratory Therapist Req. Num: 5669 Central Peninsula Hospital | Soldotna, AK Respiratory Care Full Time Day Every other weekend. Details: POSITION SUMMARY: Provides respiratory therapies for all ages, including newborn to geriatric patients. Including m | Central Peninsula Hospital | Soldotna, AK | 02.15.2019 |
| Provides respiratory therapies for all ages, including newborn to geriatric patients. Including mechanical ventilator management, arterial blood gas draws and analysis, emergent airway management, med neb delivery, EKG's and other diagnostics.... | |||
| Respiratory Therapist New Position Req. Num: 5705 Central Peninsula Hospital | Soldotna, AK Respiratory Care Full Time Night Every other weekend. Details: POSITION SUMMARY: Provides respiratory therapies for all ages, including newborn to geriatric patien | Central Peninsula Hospital | Soldotna, AK | 02.15.2019 |
| Provides respiratory therapies for all ages, including newborn to geriatric patients. Including mechanical ventilator management, arterial blood gas draws and analysis, emergent airway management, med neb delivery, EKG's and other diagnostics.... | |||
| Physician-Psych Adult OP Clinic Prof Svs | MaineHealth | Portland, ME | 02.15.2019 |
| Maine Medical Center Department: MaineHealth Maine Medical Center/Psych Adult OP Clinic Prof Svs Std Hrs/Wk: Full Time Shift: Day Shift Full/Part Time: 35.2 Apply Internal Apply Create Job Alert Add to Cart Job Details: The... | |||
| Medical Director, Behavioral Health Services - Psychiatry | WakeMed Health & Hospitals | Raleigh, NC | 11.21.2018 |
| Exceptional opportunity for a BC/BE Psychiatrist to join more than 300 other multi-specialty providers in a leadership capacity. Work with a diverse patient population in a collegial, supportive environment seeing patients in a consult-liaison... | |||
| West Coast Adult Psychiatry | The Medicus Firm | Dallas, TX | 02.18.2019 |
| West Coast University Program Seeking Full-Time Adult Psychiatrist A growing and dynamic academic program is seeking a full-time adult psychiatrist to join a growing university based medical team. Carve out a practice combining general... | |||
| Registered Nurse - ED/Psychiatric Suite | CaroMont Health | Gastonia, NC | 10.19.2018 |
| To render professional nursing care to a group of assigned patients within the hospital. Screen psychiatric emergencies at the request of the Emergency Department physician or Psychiatrist to determine need for inpatient admission or outpatient... | |||
-
OK City Academic Geriatric
Dallas, TX
The Medicus Firm
Academic Geriatric Medicine Position Recruiting for both Outpatient and Inpatient Services One of the few Geriatric Medicine Departments in the Country The Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatric Medicine at the University of...
-
Geriatric Psych - Salt Lake
Dallas, TX
The Medicus Firm
Live in Park City or Salt Lake City Geriatric Psychiatry Opening Compensation: $300,000 salary plus an aggressive bonus plan. 13-15 patients per day-bonused per patient above 15 Setting: Employed Largest stand-alone adult Psych...
-
Physician - Geriatrician / Geriatric Medicine
Billings, MT
St Vincent - SCL Health
About Us: St. Vincent Healthcare is part of SCL Health, a faith-based, nonprofit health care organization. Interested in making a difference? Then check us out. Our rich heritage and mission, and our focus on health care...
-
Physician - Psychiatrist Child & Adolescent Inpatient, Duluth, MN
Duluth, MN
Essentia Health
Education Qualifications: Licensure/Certification Qualifications: SEEKING- CHILD/ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIST-INPATIENT Duluth, Minnesota Essentia Health, headquartered in Duluth, Minn., is an integrated health system serving patients in...
-
RN Geriatric Telemetry and Palliative Care Unit Daly 6A
Springfield, MO
Baystate Medical Center
Location: Springfield, Massachusetts Regular/Temporary: Regular You will be responsible for: The provision of nursing care to assigned patients in accordance with current BH Standards of Care. Administering and monitoring patient response...
-
Behavioral Hlth Counselor
Richmond, VA
VCU Health System
- Masters degree is required VCU Health System's IM - Ryan White Program is seeking a full time Behavioral Health Counselor to provide a range of Mental Health services to eligible HIV infected patients in the Infectious Disease clinic....
-
Physician, Psychiatry
Stillwater, OK
Stillwater Medical
Seeking a Psychiatrist for Stillwater Medical. If interested, please contact: Nat Cooper, VP of Business Development/Community Outreach nhcooper@stillwater-medical.org 405-742-5911
-
Psych Screener
Guntersville, AL
Marshall Medical Centers
The Psychiatric screener will assist the ER physician in the evaluation of the mentally ill patient and relaying information to the Psychiatrist .Providing clinical assessment, treatment, referral and appropriate placement as required for the...
-
Respiratory Therapist Req. Num: 5668 Central Peninsula Hospital | Soldotna, AK Respiratory Care Full Time Day Every other weekend. Details: POSITION SUMMARY: Provides respiratory therapies for all ages, including newborn to geriatric patients. Including m
Soldotna, AK
Central Peninsula Hospital
Provides respiratory therapies for all ages, including newborn to geriatric patients. Including mechanical ventilator management, arterial blood gas draws and analysis, emergent airway management, med neb delivery, EKG's and other diagnostics....
-
Respiratory Therapist Req. Num: 5669 Central Peninsula Hospital | Soldotna, AK Respiratory Care Full Time Day Every other weekend. Details: POSITION SUMMARY: Provides respiratory therapies for all ages, including newborn to geriatric patients. Including m
Soldotna, AK
Central Peninsula Hospital
Provides respiratory therapies for all ages, including newborn to geriatric patients. Including mechanical ventilator management, arterial blood gas draws and analysis, emergent airway management, med neb delivery, EKG's and other diagnostics....
-
Respiratory Therapist New Position Req. Num: 5705 Central Peninsula Hospital | Soldotna, AK Respiratory Care Full Time Night Every other weekend. Details: POSITION SUMMARY: Provides respiratory therapies for all ages, including newborn to geriatric patien
Soldotna, AK
Central Peninsula Hospital
Provides respiratory therapies for all ages, including newborn to geriatric patients. Including mechanical ventilator management, arterial blood gas draws and analysis, emergent airway management, med neb delivery, EKG's and other diagnostics....
-
Physician-Psych Adult OP Clinic Prof Svs
Portland, ME
MaineHealth
Maine Medical Center Department: MaineHealth Maine Medical Center/Psych Adult OP Clinic Prof Svs Std Hrs/Wk: Full Time Shift: Day Shift Full/Part Time: 35.2 Apply Internal Apply Create Job Alert Add to Cart Job Details: The...
-
Medical Director, Behavioral Health Services - Psychiatry
Raleigh, NC
WakeMed Health & Hospitals
Exceptional opportunity for a BC/BE Psychiatrist to join more than 300 other multi-specialty providers in a leadership capacity. Work with a diverse patient population in a collegial, supportive environment seeing patients in a consult-liaison...
-
West Coast Adult Psychiatry
Dallas, TX
The Medicus Firm
West Coast University Program Seeking Full-Time Adult Psychiatrist A growing and dynamic academic program is seeking a full-time adult psychiatrist to join a growing university based medical team. Carve out a practice combining general...
-
Registered Nurse - ED/Psychiatric Suite
Gastonia, NC
CaroMont Health
To render professional nursing care to a group of assigned patients within the hospital. Screen psychiatric emergencies at the request of the Emergency Department physician or Psychiatrist to determine need for inpatient admission or outpatient...