The Hidden Link Between Depression and Dementia Every time I sit with a client and help them move through depression, I know I’m not just helping them feel better in the moment—I may also be protecting their brain years down the road. That’s not just a hope—it’s science. In this episode, I’m diving into the […]

Depression is NOT a normal part of aging—yet it’s silently stealing joy, independence, and even life from millions of older adults. Most go undiagnosed and untreated. Why? Because we mistake their suffering for “just getting older.” But here’s the truth: late-life depression is serious—and it’s highly treatable. In today’s episode, you’ll learn how to spot […]

Do you regularly screen for depression in the older adults you work with? Do you know which screening tools are best to use with older adults? With adults with mild cognitive impairment? With adults with moderate to severe dementia? No worries! I got you covered. In this week’s video, you’ll learn: ⭐️ 5 must have […]

  Your Hidden Biases May Be Harming Your Clients.   Have you ever thought, “Older adults are just set in their ways” or “Therapy isn’t effective for older clients”? If so, this episode is for you. Today, we tackle the hidden biases that even seasoned mental health professionals may hold toward older adults.   Here’s What You’ll Learn in […]

If you’re committed to meeting the mental health needs of older adults, this episode is for you.   In 2024, we saw some incredible advancements in mental health research for older adults—insights that can shape how you practice and care for this underserved population.   As a geropsychologist, I’m passionate about equipping you with the […]

  The field of peer support has grown in many mental health and substance abuse treatment systems. Peer Support Specialists draw upon their own life experiences, like mental health and substance use concerns, distress, poverty, and oppression, on the one hand, and experiences of recovery and resilience, on the other.¹ They use their lived experience […]

Depression after stroke, also called post-stroke depression, affects approximately one third of stroke survivors at any one time after stroke. When stroke survivors experience depression, they are more likely to have fewer gains in their recovery, a poor quality of life, and increased risk for stroke in the future (Towfighi, et al, 2017). Thankfully, there […]

Suicide is heart breaking and tragic. Today’s guest, Yeates Conwell, MD, geriatric psychiatrist and leading expert on suicide among older adults is on the podcast to guide us in understanding late life suicide and how we can help older adults who may be suicidal.

In honor of Suicide Prevention Week, I’m devoting today’s podcast episode to older adults and suicide. More specifically, what puts older adults at risk for suicide and how you can help. You may be surprised to hear that older White men over 85 are at the greatest risk and have the highest rates of suicide […]

I recently received a letter from a listener: “Dear Dr. Koepp, My mom has recently become depressed. She’s 94 and lives alone. She’s seen her internist and is on 10 milligrams of Lexapro. My family and I aren’t sure what we should be doing (if anything). Where should we go from here?” In today’s episode […]