Avicenna Centre for Brain Health provides geriatric psychiatric services for older adults who may be experiencing mental health concerns later in life. Our team offers specialized assessment, treatment, and follow-up, with attention to the medical, cognitive, and emotional factors that often overlap in older age.
Our Older Adult program supports patients aged 65 and over. Mental health needs can look different in later life, and our geriatric team is experienced in distinguishing between mood, cognitive, medical, and medication-related factors so that care is tailored to the whole person. Where helpful, we can arrange for translators, and our team includes multilingual staff.
Older adults may benefit from assessment when they are experiencing depression, anxiety, memory concerns, behaviour changes, disturbed thoughts, or changes in day-to-day functioning. Assessment helps clarify what is contributing and what next steps are appropriate.
In later life, mental health and cognitive health often overlap. Depression, anxiety, and medication effects can all influence memory and thinking, and our broader brain health model lets us consider all of these together. For concerns focused on memory, cognitive decline, or dementia, our Memory Clinic offers a comprehensive assessment. We also provide assessment to help rule out dementia in adults with developmental or learning disabilities, including Down syndrome, through a psychiatrist with expertise in this area.
Our geriatric team provides specialized assessment, short or longer-term treatment, and follow-up where needed. Family members and loved ones are often involved, since their observations help build a complete picture. The psychiatrist provides recommendations, and the patient’s family physician continues their ongoing care.
The psychiatric consultation is covered by your provincial health plan (MSP in British Columbia, AHCIP in Alberta) when you have valid coverage and a referral from a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Any allied health components are private-pay and may be covered by extended health benefits.
Avicenna is a referral-based clinic and is not an urgent or crisis service. If an older adult is experiencing a sudden, severe change in thinking or behaviour, or if someone is in crisis, please call 911, or call or text the 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline.
We offer older adult and geriatric psychiatric care at our Delta, BC and Calgary, AB clinics. Contact the location nearest you, or learn more about our broader psychiatric services.
Our Older Adult program supports patients aged 65 and over.
Yes. A psychiatric consultation requires a referral from a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
For memory loss, cognitive decline, or dementia, our Memory Clinic offers a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment.
Ask your family doctor or nurse practitioner for a referral, then connect with the Delta or Calgary clinic.
