Gideon A. Caplan is a Geriatric Psychiatrist based in Sydney, NSW, Australia. He works with older adults who are dealing with changes in thinking, memory, mood, and behaviour, especially when illness is affecting daily life.
A big part of his work is looking after people with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. At times, families notice more confusion, memory getting worse, sleep changes, or trouble finding words. In many cases, these shifts can also come with anxiety or low mood, and it helps to have someone who can sort out what’s going on in the mind and what might be linked to a physical illness.
He also helps when someone develops delirium. Delirium can happen suddenly, often after an infection, a hospital stay, dehydration, or medication changes. It can look frightening. People may seem “not themselves”, become very drowsy or very agitated, and their attention can be hard to hold. Gideon focuses on understanding the cause, calming symptoms where needed, and supporting safer care for the person and the people around them.
Another area he treats is delirium tremens, which can occur as part of severe alcohol withdrawal. This is usually urgent and can be life-threatening, so it’s important that treatment is handled with care and with a clear plan for ongoing support.
Gideon Caplan understands that these conditions don’t just affect the patient. Families often feel stressed, tired, and unsure what to do next. Over time, he aims to keep conversations clear and practical, so you know what’s happening and what the next steps might be.
His approach is grounded and patient-focused. He looks at the full picture, including symptoms, day-to-day function, and what’s likely driving changes at that point in time. He works alongside other health professionals so care can fit with the medical side of things as well as the mental health side.
In terms of training, he has been trained as a psychiatrist and then built his career around caring for older people. In his day-to-day practice, he applies that experience to help manage symptoms, reduce distress, and support better quality of life for patients living with cognitive and behavioural health issues.
