Psychiatry for older persons

We assess and treat people over the age of 65 who have developed mental health problems for the first time.

Psychiatry for older persons is one of four psychiatry services at the Mater Hospital. Read our overview of psychiatry services for more information on the other services. 

We offer specialist mental health services for people who live in the Dublin postcodes 1, 3, 7, 9, 11 and 15.

The range of problems we deal with include:

• Anxiety and related disorders
• Depression and elation
• Psychosis
• Dementia when it is associated with behavioural problems such as aggression and agitation or with symptoms such as depression, delusions and hallucinations

What services do we provide?

If the patient is living in their own home, a psychiatrist will assess them there. If the patient is a Mater Hospital inpatient when they are referred, one of our psychiatrists will assess them in the hospital.

This makes the service more accessible to patients, as they don’t have to travel to get an assessment.

After the assessment, if it is necessary, we draw up a treatment plan.  This may involve the community mental health nurse service and/or the patient attending the day hospital. The treatment plan we recommend will depend on the nature and severity of the patient’s illness. A day hospital is available in each of the two areas covered by our service.

Patients who are suffering from a very severe mental illness aren’t suitable home-based care and treatment. They may be admitted to the service’s specialist acute psychiatric unit in St Vincent’s Hospital, Fairview for a short period of intensive treatment.

Useful links

• Alzheimer Society of Ireland