Geriatric Clinic & Services
ABOUT GERIATRIC UNIT:
Geriatric Clinic and Services was initially started as a once weekly specialty clinic in 1999 under the Department of Psychiatry in the context of the growing need for specialized clinical care, research and human resource development in the field of cognitive and psychological disorders affecting the elderly.
The Geriatric Clinic & Services has currently grown in to a full-time unit with dedicated outpatient (3 days a week) and inpatient services provided by multi-disciplinary team of experts. This service provides comprehensive clinical care for elderly (age 60 years and above) with any neuropsychiatric problem (Eg. Memory / cognitive impairment, dementia, depression, anxiety, psychosis, sleep disorders etc).
ACADEMICS and RESEARCH
The Geriatric clinic and services is providing super specialty training (DM and other fellowship Courses in Geriatric Psychiatry) to develop the specialized human resources in this field. The DM course has been started from the last year while the post-doctoral fellowship (PDF) in geriatric psychiatry has been ongoing for the past few years. Currently there are four DM residents, one PDF in geriatric psychiatry, one fellow (post-MBBS) in geriatric mental health care and one fellow in psycho-social care for elderly. The multi-disciplinary care for elderly with Neuropsychiatric disorders and other activities (training, research and public health promotion in community) of the unit is actively supported by the intramural and extramural collaboration with many other departments having expertise in this field. The departments of Neurology, Psychiatric Social Work, Neuropsychology, Center for Public Health and College of Nursing at NIMHANS have contributed significantly in the clinical services and community based activities of the Geriatric Clinic and Services. We are in the process of establishing partnerships with many other departments and organizations (Governmental as well as Non-Governmental) to improve the clinical services, training and research in this field.
COURSES OFFERED
- DM in Geriatric Psychiatry (2 seats): Three years
- Post-doctoral fellow (PDF) in Geriatric Psychiatry (1 seat): One year
- Fellow in Geriatric Mental Health care (1 seat): One year
- Fellowship in Psycho-social care for elderly (1 seat): One year
- Fellowship in Geriatric Mental Health Nursing (2 seats): One year
(for more details, please refer to ‘Current Prospectus’).
Services provided in the clinic
Geriatric Clinic and services at NIMHANS is a clinic for the elderly above the age of 60 years with various neuropsychiatric issues like dementia (including Alzheimer’s Dementia), Depression, Psychosis, and Chronic Pain of old age onset. It is a multidisciplinary approach to the mental health issues of the elderly involving Psychiatrists, Neurologists, Social workers, and Neuropsychologists.
The Geriatric Group along with the Department of Epidemiology is also actively engaged in the sensitization and training of the BBMP physicians in Bangalore. The group collaborates with the Center for Well Being for providing counseling to the needy elderly and assists with the Elderly Helpline that was initiated in 2012 and is successfully running since inception. The Geriatric Group works actively with various Senior Citizen Forums in South Bangalore for positive ageing and exercise.
“iSupport Programme for Caregivers of people with Dementia”
At NIMHANS we are conducting an online training program for caregivers of people with dementia. The goal of the study is to develop an effective online support programme for caregivers of people with dementia.
You are requested to fill out some questionnaires before you are assigned to one of our online support programs. It might take about 40 minutes (you can take a break)
For your time and effort and as a token of appreciation, we would like to try out one of our online support programs, please click on the link below to take part in the study.
Services
- Screening, evaluation & management, Out-patient [OP} consultation for various Neuropsychiatric problems in the elderly like memory loss / cognitive decline, dementia, depression and other mental health problems.
- Individual and group counseling
- Neuropsychological assessment and cognitive training for elderly
- Support groups for care-givers of persons with dementia
- Liaison with other agencies who are involved in care for elderly
- In-patient treatment for comprehensive assessment, diagnostic evaluation and acute care for elderly with Neuropsychiatric disorders
How does one get a consultation?
First contact evaluation Gate 1- Screening OPD; for Neuropsychiatric problems in elderly by Geriatric Clinic & Services is available from 9 am to 11.30 am on Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday at screening block, NIMHANS OPD Services. On other days, the evaluation would be done by the general adult psychiatry unit in screening and would be referred to Geriatric clinic if required.
On subsequent visits, consultation will be done by appointment at G-15 OPD (ground floor) from
9am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays (apart from 2nd Saturdays of the month).
Who will benefit?
Elderly above the age of 60 years with various neuropsychiatric issues like dementia (including Alzheimer’s Dementia), Depression, Psychosis, and Chronic Pain of old age onset.
Contact details
G-15 block, ground floor, OPD Block, NIMHANS, Hosur Road, Bangalore 560029
Phone: 08026995518 (Saturdays 2pm-5pm)
Email:elderly.nimhans@gmail.com
Consultants
Psychiatrists
Dr Mathew Varghese
Professor and Head
Email: mat@nimhans.kar.nic.in
Dr. P. T. Sivakumar
Additional Professor
Email: pts@nimhans.kar.nic.in
Dr. Santosh Loganathan
Associate Professor
Email: santosh-l@nimhans.kar.nic.in
Dr. Preeti Sinha
Assistant Professor
Email: preetisinha@nimhans.kar.nic.in
Dr Vijay Kumar H
email: drvijaysh@yahoo.com
Neurologists
Dr. S.R. Chandra
Professor
Email: srchandra@nimhans.kar.nic.in
Dr. P. S. Mathuranath
Additional Professor
Email: mathu@nimhans.kar.nic.in
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Kekhav Kumar J
Additional Professor
Email: keshavjk@nimhans.kar.nic.in
Psychiatric Social Worker
Dr. A. Thirumoorthy
Additional Professor
Email: thirumoorthy@nimhans.kar.nic.in
Senior Residents
- Dr. Debanjan
- Dr. Sai Sudha G
- Dr. Shiva Shankar
- Dr. Migita
- Dr. Abha Takur
- Dr Kalyani BG
Research staff
Prafulla
Himangshu
Nagalakshmi