Geropsychiatry is a specialized area of medicine that focuses on the unique physical and emotional needs of the senior adult. There are unique issues of loss and adjustments in lifestyle, complicated by concurrent medical issues, which are not experienced by any other age group.

Northwest Hospital & Medical Center has been offering geropsychiatric services since 1993. Providing services in both inpatient and outpatient settings, the Northwest Hospital Geropsychiatric Center is the most comprehensive psychiatric program for senior adults offered in Washington State.

Recent American Psychiatric Association statistics show:

• An estimated five percent of people over the age of 65 suffer from depression.
• The majority of Americans age 65 and over accept the symptoms of depression as a normal part of aging.
• Unidentified depressive disorders can be misdiagnosed as dementing illnesses
• The population over age 65 has the highest suicide rate of any age group in America.
• Three million older adults suffer from moderate to severe organic brain disorders.
• Accurate diagnosis and treatment of both medical and behavioral health issues can greatly enhance the quality of life in later years