Old age psychiatry
Old age psychiatrists provide specialist and holistic assessment, treatment and ongoing care for older people experiencing mental health problems such as dementia, personality disorders and schizophrenia.
You’ll work with patients experiencing cognitive problems and psychological problems because of the ageing process.
In this video Dr Alex Bailey, Consultant old age psychiatrist, gives an insight into his working life and also the nature of the demands and rewards that come from working in the community with elderly people and the type of person that it would suit as a career.
Life as an old age psychiatrist
A patient’s mental health can be affected by any physical problems they experience, which is why NHS old age psychiatrists take a holistic approach and need a sound knowledge of general medicine. Old age psychiatry is considered the most ‘medical’ of psychiatric specialties. You’ll need detailed knowledge of the way in which older people metabolise medication, since this can change as part of the aging process. The interaction of physical health medications, as well as the high rate of polypharmacy (use of multiple medicines) in this population, means that you’ll also need a high level of pharmacological expertise. As part of a holistic approach, you’ll need to understand the legal and philosophical issues regarding, for example, human rights, end-of-life decisions and informed consent. As an old age psychiatrist, you’ll balance clinical decisions with ethics. Common mental health disorders you’ll treat include:- cognitive impairment
- dementia
- functional disorders (such as depression or psychosis)
- organic disorders (such as memory loss)
- personality disorders
- schizophrenia
Mental health and social problems often go hand-in-hand. Consequently, you’ll collaborate widely, for example with GPs, occupational therapists and voluntary organisations.
The emphasis is on care in the community and delivering care that allows a patient to remain living at home. You’ll need to work closely with a patient’s family and carers, promoting independence and choice.
Mental health problems in older people differ greatly compared to the younger population. And with an aging population and an increase in dementia and mental health problems, there is a growing demand for first-class old age psychiatrists.
How much can I earn?
You’ll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training after medical school. Find out details of current salary ranges for foundation and specialty training, SAS doctors and consultants on the 'Pay for doctors' page.How about the benefits?
- make a difference
- flexible and part-time working
- high income early in your career
- work anywhere in the world
- excellent pension scheme
- good holiday entitlement
- NHS discounts in shops and restaurants
Must-have skills
- excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, and patients and their families
- emotional resilience, a calm temperament and the ability to work well under pressure
- teamwork and the capacity to lead multidisciplinary teams
- problem-solving and diagnostic skills
- outstanding organisational ability and effective decision-making skills
- first-class time and resource management for the benefit of patients
In addition, old age psychiatrists need to demonstrate:
- empathy and compassion and the ability to treat others with understanding and respect
- a holistic approach to medicine and ability to apply medical and psychiatric skills
- excellent listening skills
- to be willing to build relationships with their patients
Entry requirements
Your first step is medical school. Typically, you’ll need excellent GCSEs and three A or A* passes at A level including chemistry for a five-year undergraduate degree in medicine. Many medical schools also ask for biology and others may require maths or physics.If you already have a degree, you could study for a four-year postgraduate degree in medicine.
You’ll need to pass an interview and admissions test. You’ll be asked to show how you demonstrate the NHS values such as compassion and respect.Some medical schools look to recruit a mix of students from different backgrounds and geographical areas, so your educational and economic background and family circumstances could be considered as part of your application.
How to become an old age psychiatrist
After medical school, you’ll join the paid two-year foundation programme where you’ll work in six placements in different settings.After your foundation programme, you can apply for paid specialty training to become an old age psychiatrist, which will take a minimum of six years.
You may be able to train part time, for example for health reasons or if you have family or caring responsibilities.What are my chances of starting a career in old age psychiatry?
In 2021, there were 529 consultants in old age psychiatry working in the NHS in England. In 2020, there were 57 applications for 60 training places.Where a career as an old age psychiatrist can take you
You could:- specialise or conduct research
- teach medical students or postgraduate students in training
- get involved in research at universities, the NHS or private sector
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Consultant Psychiatrist -Old Age Psychiatry
Enfield, EN2 8JL
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North London NHS Foundation Trust
-
Locum Consultant Psychiatrist - Old Age Psychiatry
Plymouth, PL4 7PY
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Livewell Southwest
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Old Age Psychiatry
Workington, CA14 4HA
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Old Age Psychiatry
Bangor, LL57 2PW
- Salary :
- £106000.00 to £154760.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Old Age Psychiatry
Pwllhelli, LL53 6TU
- Salary :
- £106000.00 to £154760.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Consultant Psychiatry - Old Age
Oldham, OL1 2JU
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Pennine Care NHS FT
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Old Age Psychiatry Maples
Peterborough, PE3 9GZ
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Community Old Age Psychiatry - Fenland
March, PE15 0UG
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry, Salisbury
Salisbury, SP2 7FD
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Community Old Age Psychiatry and (MAMS)
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant in old Age Psychiatry - Central Cornwall
Truro, TR4 8UN
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry - CMHT Southampton
Southampton, SO16 4XE
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist in Universal Crisis Team
Sunderland, SR2 0NB
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist - Canterbury Old Age Community
Canterbury, CT1 1TD
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist - Dover Old Age Community
Dover Kent, CT16 2AH
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist - Ashford Old Age Community
Ashford, TN24 5BY
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist, Trafford, Old Age Inpatient
Davyhulme, M41 5SL
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHSFT
-
COMMUNITY OLD AGE CONSULTANT PSYCHIATRIST OACMHT – CENTRAL
Essex, RM3 0QA
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- NELFT North East London Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Community Old Age - Huntingdon
Huntingdon, PE29 3RJ
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Old Age: Community & Memory Clinic
Hertford, SG13 7HL
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Old Age *Generous Recruitment Package*
Norwich, NR2 3TD
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust
-
Consultant Old Age Psych(Woodlands)*Generous Recruitment Package*
Ipswich, IP4 5PD
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust
-
Consultant Psych Old Age (IDT Haymills) *Generous Recruitment Package*
Stowmarket, IP14 1RQ
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust
-
Deputy Designated Professional for Safeguarding - All Age
Bristol, BS1 6AG
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board
-
Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist – School-Age
Reading, RG6 6BZ
- Salary :
- £40617.00 to £48778.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
-
Lead Allied Health Professional - Working Age Adults
Worcester, WR5 1JG
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Liaison Psychiatry
Shrewsbury, SY3 8XQ
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist within Rehabilitation Psychiatry
Plymouth, PL4 7PY
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Livewell Southwest
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Liaison Psychiatry
Harrogate, HG27SX
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist – EIS Psychiatry, South Cumbria
Kendal, LA9 7RL
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Adult Psychiatry (CRHT)
St Helens, WA9 3DE
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in General Adult Psychiatry
Colwyn Bay, LL29 7RB
- Salary :
- £91722.00 to £119079.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Consultant Psychiatrist, General Adult Psychiatry - Accrington
Accrington, BB5 6SE
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist, General Inpatient Psychiatry - Whalley
Whalley, BB7 9PE
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist, General Adult Psychiatry - Lancaster
Morecambe, LA4 5QG
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Forensic Psychiatry (Medium security)
Dawlish , EX7 0NR
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Devon Partnership NHS Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist General Adult Psychiatry (Community & PLT)
Workington, CA14 4HA
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychiatry of Learning Disability
Leeds, LS12 3QE
- Salary :
- £119490.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Marlborough
Marlborough, SN8 3HL
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Oxford Health NHS Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Morpeth, NE61 2NU
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in General Adult Psychiatry - Salus Ward
Torquay, TQ2 7AA
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Devon Partnership NHS Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in IP Adult Rehabilitation Service Psychiatry
Houghton Le Spring, DH5 8NB
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry - North Core
Peterborough, PE3 6DB
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist – General Adult Psychiatry, West Lancs CMHT
Ormskirk, L39 2JW
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Psychiatrist in Core CAMHS Psychiatry (2 Posts Available)
Redditch, B98 8AH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
-
Liaison Psychiatry Practitioner
Dorchester, DT1 2JY
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Liaison Psychiatry Practitioner
Bournemouth and Poole UHD, BH15 2JB
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Liaison Psychiatry Administrator
Dorset, DT1 2JY
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant in Psychiatry (Perinatal)
SHEFFIELD, S11 9AR
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant in Perinatal Psychiatry
Shipley, BD18 3LD
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant in Forensic Psychiatry
Conwy, LL30 1LA
- Salary :
- £91722.00 to £119079.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Operational Manager Liaison Psychiatry
Gillingham, ME7 5NY
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust
-
Consultant in Liaison Psychiatry
Luton, LU4 0DZ
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East London NHS Foundation Trust
-
Speciality Doctor Liaison Psychiatry
Bury, BL9 7TD
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Pennine Care NHS FT
-
Specialty Doctor in Forensic Psychiatry
Gloucester, GL1 3WL
- Salary :
- £59175.00 to £95400.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Liaison Psychiatry
Harrogate, HG27SX
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
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The Royal College of Psychiatrists has further information about being an old age psychiatrist, particularly as your career progresses. Take a look.
And watch a video of Sarah, a trainee in old age psychiatry, talking about her experiences.