Polypharmacy review and late-onset mood disorders for adults 65+. Dr. Farkas brings sophisticated medication expertise to the unique complexities of psychiatric care in aging — multiple medical conditions, complex drug interactions, and age-specific presentations.
Full medication review including all non-psychiatric drugs
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Complex drug-drug interaction analysis
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Age-adjusted medication dosing
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Cognitive assessment and consideration
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Coordination with PCP and specialists
Why Geriatric Psychiatry
Aging changes everything about psychiatric care
Standard psychiatric approaches developed for adults in their 30s and 40s often need significant modification — in drug selection, dosing, and interaction assessment — for patients 65 and older.
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Polypharmacy Complexity
Many older adults are on 5–10+ medications for cardiac, diabetic, and other conditions. Each psychiatric medication must be evaluated for interactions across this full regimen. Dr. Farkas's pharmaceutical research background is uniquely suited to this task.
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Age-Related Pharmacokinetics
Kidney and liver function change with age, affecting how medications are metabolized and eliminated. Standard adult doses are often too high in older patients, leading to toxicity, falls, and cognitive side effects.
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Cognitive Considerations
Distinguishing depression from early dementia, differentiating delirium from psychiatric illness, and choosing medications that don't worsen cognitive function require geriatric psychiatric expertise.
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Medical-Psychiatric Interface
Late-life depression often has medical contributors — thyroid dysfunction, cardiac conditions, neurological disease, chronic pain. Treating the psychiatric symptoms without addressing these is an incomplete approach.
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Dignity & Autonomy
Dr. Farkas treats older adults as competent decision-makers in their own care. Treatment decisions are made with patients — not by family members or caretakers over the patient's head.
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Deprescribing Expertise
Older adults are often on psychiatric medications prescribed years ago that are no longer necessary. Strategic, safe deprescribing reduces fall risk, cognitive side effects, and medication burden.
Conditions Treated
Geriatric psychiatric conditions we address
Late-life psychiatric conditions often present differently than in younger adults — and are frequently undertreated because patients and families assume depression and anxiety are "just part of aging." They're not.
Late-Onset DepressionFirst episode of depression after age 65 — often undertreated
Late-Life AnxietyGAD, panic disorder, and phobias in older adults
Complex Polypharmacy5+ medications with unclear psychiatric rationale
Cognitive Changes & MoodPsychiatric symptoms alongside cognitive decline or dementia
Grief & AdjustmentLoss of spouse, retirement, declining independence
Medication Side EffectsFalls, cognitive fog, sedation from psychiatric drugs
Ideal For
Who this service is right for
Geriatric Psychiatry is appropriate for adults generally 65 and older — or younger adults with complex medical comorbidities that make standard psychiatric approaches insufficient.
Adults 65+ with first-episode depressionNew onset mood disorder in older age
Patients on 5+ total medicationsMedical + psychiatric polypharmacy review needed
Patients with cognitive concernsMood symptoms alongside memory or thinking changes
Families seeking expert psychiatric inputWhen family members want a thorough evaluation for a parent
Getting Started
What to expect from your first appointment
Geriatric psychiatric evaluations take 60–90 minutes. Dr. Farkas reviews the complete medication list — including all medical medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs — not just psychiatric ones.
Telehealth is particularly useful for older adults with limited mobility or those who rely on family members for transportation. The same expert evaluation is available from home.
Complete medication reconciliation across all prescribers
Drug interaction analysis with age-adjusted dosing considerations
Cognitive screening when clinically appropriate
Coordination with primary care and specialists
Family involvement in care planning when patient wishes
