Find a Geriatric Therapist Near You

Geriatric therapists specialize in the cognitive and neurological challenges that often accompany aging, including dementia, memory loss, and age-related cognitive decline. They also address the psychological conditions that frequently co-occur with these issues, such as depression, anxiety, and grief. Geriatric therapists and psychologists are trained to assess cognitive functioning, identify symptoms that may warrant further evaluation, and conduct or refer for formal neurological assessment when needed.

In many cases, geriatric therapists also work closely with medical doctors to manage a client's overall health, and they may support caregivers and family members navigating the demands of caring for an aging loved one.

Someone might seek a geriatric therapist when they or a loved one begins experiencing cognitive or neurological changes and is unsure whether those changes are a normal part of aging or something that requires clinical attention. A geriatric therapist can help connect families with appropriate next steps. They are also commonly sought following a new diagnosis, when clients and families are working to understand what that diagnosis means practically and emotionally, and what to expect as a condition progresses.

When seeking a therapist, it can be helpful to consider whether a clinician with a stronger psychotherapy focus or one with more of a social work orientation, who can help connect clients with assisted living or medical resources, would be the better fit.

Geriatric therapist often combine psychotherapy with psychoeducation, helping clients and their families understand cognitive and neurological conditions and what to expect as they progress. For clients experiencing anxiety or depression alongside cognitive decline, therapists may draw on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or mindfulness-based approaches. For clients with dementia specifically, therapists may be trained in specialized modalities such as Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), which is designed to preserve cognitive functioning.

Yes, and this is a core area of geriatric psychology. Therapists specializing in dementia can work directly with clients on memory loss and cognitive functioning, while also addressing conditions that commonly co-occur, such as depression and anxiety. They can provide caregivers with objective assessments of a client's functioning and disease progression, and are typically well-versed in community resources available to dementia patients and their families.