Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Services

Services and Support for Older Adults

The Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Services provide comprehensive services for adults ages 65 and older with depression, anxiety, and cognitive function disorders.

Our array of outpatient programs offer individual and group therapy, incorporating diagnostic evaluation, medication management, and more, for patients who do not require hospitalization.

We will work with you to determine which option is best for you. For more information or to make a referral, please call 617.855.3267.

In His Own Words

Watch this video to learn more about Bob and his mental health journey with Alzheimer’s disease and other diagnoses

Treatment Approach

The goal of the Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Services is to provide outpatients with a tailored treatment plan that will allow the individual to address symptoms while remaining independent at home or in the community.

We focus on diagnostic assessment, individual and group therapy, and medication evaluation and management as appropriate. Our multidisciplinary team of expert clinicians and support staff have chosen geriatrics as their specialty and pride themselves on providing compassionate and efficient care.

We work together to collaborate with patients and families to provide first-class treatment.

Research into causes, cures, and symptom reduction is a crucial aspect of older adult care. Our programs utilize care models and treatments based on clinical and neuroscience research, including cutting-edge studies conducted by investigators in McLean’s Geriatric Psychiatry Clinical Research Program.

Our research is exploring ways to slow down disease progression of Alzheimer’s disease, potential treatments for behavioral complications of Alzheimer’s dementia (such as agitation, anxiety, sleep disorders, and mood disturbance), as well as aspects of depression and bipolar disorder, memory loss, and more.

Patients may be asked to join in our studies as research subjects. Study participation is voluntary, and declining does not affect access to care.

Read more about mental wellness as we age

About Our Programs

The Older Adult Clinic provides full evaluation and treatment to older adults with an array of psychiatric conditions who do not require hospitalization.

Diagnostic evaluation, psychotherapy, and medication evaluation and management are available to help patients cope with problems, such as depression, anxiety, substance misuse, or difficulty with managing losses and transitions.

The Memory Disorders Assessment Clinic specializes in the evaluation, treatment, and follow-up of outpatients who have mild-to-moderate memory impairments.

During two to three half-day sessions, patients receive thorough psychiatric, neuropsychological, psychosocial, and neurological evaluations. Diagnostic and treatment recommendations are discussed with the patient, care providers, and family members as appropriate.

Clinician and older patient sit and talk

McLean’s Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Services offer care and support for older adults

GATES: Group-Based Acute Treatment Engagement for Seniors is an outpatient program for older adults with major depression, anxiety disorders, and adjustment disorders and without significant cognitive impairment.

Groups incorporate elements of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) along with coping skills, goal setting, mindfulness, and supportive therapy.

GATES is ideal as a step-down from inpatient care or for those who need intensive outpatient treatment. Patients must have an existing prescriber (psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner). Group sessions are held online for one hour twice per week. This is a short-term program, with engagement intended for 6-8-weeks.

Our Group Therapy Service for older adults includes a suite of group sessions focusing on skill building, collaborative goal setting, and patient education for a variety of mental health disorders.

Programming includes topics such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for anxiety or depression, managing emotional regulation with dialectical behavior therapy, hoarding disorders, supportive therapy for older men, and more.

Sessions are held online each week for one hour. Short-term groups are held over 8-12 weeks.

For patients enrolled in our short-term offerings, there are longer-term options as well. The long-term offerings focus on support, interpersonal relationships, loneliness, and purpose in late life, along with more specific CBT skills groups for coping with aging, depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Sessions are held online each week for one hour.

In an effort to provide you with the best possible care in the least restrictive setting necessary, we offer a number of programs within the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry. If you or a loved one are in need of short-term, intensive psychiatric care, please consider our Geriatric Psychiatry Inpatient Services.

Admission & Cost

Admission

The Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Services are ideal for older adults seeking outpatient care for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, mild to moderate memory impairments, and adjustment disorders. Referrals may be made by patients, their families, physicians, or other health care providers.

For further information about our program or to make a referral, please contact our admissions staff:

Older Adult Clinic or Memory Disorders Assessment Clinic

Phone: 617.855.3267

GATES or Group Therapy Service

Phone: 617.855.2327

Note: Patients are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the program.

Cost

Medicare covers most treatment costs. Other insurance, including Massachusetts Medicaid, is accepted. Supplemental insurance usually covers the remaining cost. Hospital staff will assist patients and their families in determining coverage.

More information on insurance providers accepted by McLean Hospital may be found on the Mass General Brigham website. You may also find it beneficial to review McLean’s patient billing and financial assistance information.

Treatment Team

Program Leadership

Ipsit Vahia, MD

Ipsit Vahia, MD, Medical Director

Dr. Vahia is a geriatric psychiatrist, clinician, and researcher. He the associate chief of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and director of Digital Psychiatry Translation at McLean. His research focuses on the use of technology and informatics in the assessment and management of older adults. Currently, he oversees a clinical and research program on aging, behavior, and technology. Dr. Vahia has published extensively in major international journals and textbooks.

Dr. Caroline Bader

Caroline S. Bader, MD, Associate Medical Director

Dr. Bader is a geriatric psychiatrist specializing in the complex needs of older adults. She also serves in a teaching and supervisory role to residents and fellows as the McLean site director for the Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship at Mass General Brigham. Dr. Bader is passionate about working with older adults and their families to strive for the best quality of life in the context of mental illness, cognitive impairment, and the complex aging process.

Julie Brody Magid, PsyD

Julie Brody Magid, PsyD, Clinical Director, Memory Disorders Assessment Clinic

Dr. Brody Magid oversees clinic operations and conducts comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations with older adult patients who are referred for memory disorders and other cognitive problems. She specializes in providing neurocognitive and psychodiagnostic evaluation and treatment for patients with traumatic/acquired brain injury, dementia, movement disorders, and neuropsychiatric illnesses.

Nancy Radner, LICSW

Nancy Radner, LICSW, Clinical Director, Group Therapy Services

Ms. Radner’s extensive social work career has encompassed a variety of clinical, supervisory, and leadership roles. She developed her expertise with adolescents in alternative high schools and a crisis shelter, adults in psychiatric day treatment, and older adults in adult day health. She currently provides leadership for the group treatments in the geriatric inpatient and outpatient programs.

Staff and Associates

Our psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, psychologists, internists, social workers, occupational therapists, and nurses are specifically trained to diagnose and treat older patients. Members of our multidisciplinary teams are specialists in older adult mental health care and are committed to providing efficient and compassionate treatment.

The Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Services operate within the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Services located?

We are located on the Belmont campus in South Belknap. For more information on directions, parking, and local accommodations, please visit our Maps & Directions page.

Who benefits most from Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Services?

Our outpatient programs provide evaluation and treatment services for a wide variety of emotional, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms that affect older adults.

The Memory Disorders Assessment Clinic focuses on individuals with late-life attention deficit disorder, subjective memory impairment, mild neurocognitive disorder (MCI), and major neurocognitive disorder (dementia).

For older adults with mood and anxiety disorders who need a more intensive outpatient experience, the SAGE: Successful Aging through Group Engagement program offers a short-term experience that includes frequent individual and group sessions.

The Older Adult Clinic evaluates and treats older adults with an array of psychiatric diagnoses, including mood and anxiety disorders. We also provide consultation to community-based psychiatrists seeking assistance in treating those who have failed to respond to medications.

Is family involved in treatment?

Family involvement in outpatient treatment is at the discretion of the individual or his/her authorized health care representative. We often include family members or other caregivers in our evaluation and treatment process.

Is smoking permitted?

Smoking is allowed in designated outdoor areas only. No smoking is allowed inside any of our buildings.

Are cell phones allowed?

Cell phone use is strongly discouraged during treatment and in the waiting room to prevent disruption of the program and others.

Can former patients access their medical records?

All requests for medical records should be directed to McLean’s Health Information Management Department.

Are support groups offered?

To complement our programs’ services and encourage individuals’ initiatives in their own treatment course, many self-help groups are hosted by McLean.

We Are Here to Help

Call us today to learn more about older adult outpatient mental health care at McLean.

617.855.3267