Dr Piechniczek-Buczek offers keys to diagnosis, assessment and management of psychiatric emergencies in the elderly. Seniors often are pushed into care facilities against their wishes, taken advantage of and abused. Receiving proper health care is essential to quality of life. Piechniczek-Buczek tells us:

Psychiatric emergencies are common among the elderly. Diagnosis and treatment can pose a significant challenge because of the high incidence of medical and neurological comorbidities, psychosocial problems, and adverse effects of medications. The most common psychiatric emergencies in this population are delirium, depression with suicidality, substance abuse, and dementia accompanied by aggression.

This article identifies key issues that will allow psychiatrists to diagnose, assess, and manage these prevalent psychiatric emergencies in geriatric patients. http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/prin...printable=true

As we grow older, we need to know about the signs and symptoms that are a prelude to serious health problems. It would be wonderful to have family and friends to help us along the way. Unfortunately, often that will not be the case.