Our Mom (77) is suffering from severe depression and we are looking to get her involved with a geriatric psychiatrist. Any advice?

I am 64 and have had clinical depression, anxiety disorder for many years. There is something wrong if you have not gotten help from her insurance. Medicare is really bad..yes, but something is wrong if they are not helping. Psychiatrist, for the most part, are only there to see that you get the medication that you need. Sometimes we do forget and psych meds are such that it is important to take every day and at the same time. Also, there is situational depression which simply means a person has a REASON to be depressed. It can be very difficult getting old. Feelings of your life will be over soon, fear, self-worth, loneliness, loss of love, nobody cares anymore, and you just can't do what you used to and miss those things that you could. Hope your Mom will reach a point where she is settled, serene, content, and feeling loved. God Bless

In terms of finding a geripsych who accepts Medicare, I would call the local nursing homes to find out who they use.

I hope you find someone in your area. I first saw a Geriatric Psychiatrist only one in town here and cash only $200 first and only visit-mom my basically told him to go to h*ll. Now my mom sees a Psychiatrist Nurse Practitioner who is great, comes to the house and takes Medicare and her co insurance.She was recommended through her regular family home physicians group! It has been great especially with the house calls! Mom likes her and she can prescribe if needed.

You can go online and look up doctors and their ratings on "Healthgrades.com". "Vitals.com/psychiatrists" will help you find a good doctor in your area. She may not need a psychiatrists, she may need a psychologist. Most of all, she needs your attention, your ears, your understanding, your time and your love. Your visits, taking her places with you or doing things with her like gardening or finding out what she likes to do, will mean more than any psychiatrist can cure and none should be critical "advice" visits. Depression is hard to deal with, I know, I have dealt with it for the past 20 years and though now I take herbal remedies and use essential oils and biofeedback: These are the things that work best: 1) being able to talk to someone who really cares and is discreet. 2)Organic Camomile and Lavender oils and biofeedback which help me most. However, in the past, psychiatrist have at one time or another put me on Effexor, Zoloft, Paxil, Xanax and of those the only ones that seemed to help was Paxil and Xanax. I know now they have other medicines but remember this, they all have side affects and some very serious especially for those over the age of 50.

Many geriatricians are prescribing appropriately for persons who have depression. Look in that direction also.

Just another thought for your Mom, is she health. I have had a terrible bout with depression over the past year due to shingles. Then I developed lichen sclerosis misdiagnosed for 6 months before treatment. Even with mild symptoms illnesses can irritation that leads to depression. I'm 62 and the sole caregiver for my 90 year old mother, so I try to do a lot keep her spirits up. I so very much agree with clearblue, the human connection is everything.

Does your mom have anyone that regularly visits her? Maybe she could benefit from some home health care for outings etc.

My biggest problem in getting mental health providers for my mom was that most did not take Medicare even with BCBS supplement. This was the case in Mass. and in Ca. She could not afford long term therapy without using her insurance so I paid for her to see a geriatric therapist until she retired and my mom did not want to go to someone else. I know she enjoyed talking with Ann but my mom told me that she did not have much to talk about. I had hoped talk therapy along with her medications would help her but I did not see much change in her depression and anxiety. She has lived in Ca.(SF Bay Area) for three years and I still have not found a geriatric psychiatrist for her who will take Medicare.

Not to discourage you from seeking help, but If she is able, a 30 min walk will work wonders. Start out with 10 min and build up. Also check her D3. It's amazing how much of an improvement there can be after starting supplements.

Thank you I will check into that for future reference.