Gary S. Moak, M.D. - Dr. Moak is a geriatric psychiatrist. Dr. Moak did his residency in psychiatry and fellowship in geriatric psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. He is clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. In addition to teaching there, Dr. Moak is medical director of the UMASS geriatric psychiatry consultation project. In addition to teaching at UMass, Dr. Moak lectures nationally on a number of topics related to geriatric psychiatry. Dr. Moak is 2007-2008 past-president of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Dr. Moak's practice is limited to geriatric patients. In addition to treating patients at the Moak Center, Dr. Moak visits several area nursing homes and assisted living facilities and consults at the Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital.
Daniel D'Andrea, M.D. - Dr. D'Andrea is a geriatric and adult psychiatrist. Dr. D'Andrea did his residency in psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and then completed the Harvard Medical School Cambridge Hospital geriatric psychiatry fellowship. He holds the academic title of affiliate in psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. D'Andrea treats both geriatric and adult patients. During this year, he is on sabbatical.
Connie Gardella, RNC, BSW - Connie Gardella is a geriatric psychiatric nurse with a background in social work. Ms. Gardella's areas of expertise include counseling patients and their families on approaches to coping with symptoms, helping people understand their medications and their side effects, and consulting with geriatric programs and facilities about environmental and behavioral techniques.
Deborah Lebeaux, LICSW - Deborah Lebeaux is a licensed independent social worker and individual and family therapist. Ms. Lebeaux is the staff social worker at the Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital, in Westborough. She has considerable experience helping patients and their families cope with the effects of stressful and disabling conditions including stroke, Alzheimer's Disease, chronic pain, respiratory disease, and crippling arthritis.
Cheryl Moak - Cheryl Moak is owner of Moak Asociates, a medical billing company. Ms. Moak handles billing for the Moak Center and provides insurance reimbursementconsultation to the Moak Center
Elizabeth H. Nasser, Ph.D. - Dr. Nasser is a clinical neuropsychologist with specialized training in geriatrics. She conducts neuropsychological assessments at the Moak Center. Dr. Nasser received a Ph.D. from the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and then completed a post- doctoral fellowship in geropsychology at the VA Boston Health Care System and Harvard Medical School Division on Aging. She also practices at the Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital, in Westborough, MA, in addition to a number of other practice sites.
Teaching Activities of the Moak Center
The Moak Center engages in a number of teaching activities with trainees from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. These activities are our responsibility as volunteer faculty members of UMASS Medical School, and reflect our commitment to improve medical knowledge and awareness of physicians of all specialties about geriatric mental health problems and their treatment.
Dr. Moak works with psychiatry residents who participate with him on teaching rounds at area assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and retirement communities. Dr. D'Andrea works with medical students who sit in on office visits at the Moak Center.
We hope that you appreciate these efforts and are comfortable having a resident or medical student participating during your visit. You are under no obligation, however, to participate in our teaching activities. Our patients come first, and are our foremost concern. If, for ANY reason, you are uncomfortable having a medical student or resident present, please let us know and we will gladly assign them to another activity. This will in no way affect your treatment or our doctor-patient relationship.
MOAK GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY INFORMATION WEBSITE
Based on the success of our prior print newsletter, which was available in the office, the Moak Center for Healthy Aging has launched a new website, the Moak Geriatric Psychiatry Information Center. This new site is intended to provide information about mental health and aging and geriatric psychiatry. Information is available in a monthly newsletter or as individual articles that can be downloaded when new interest arises. The materials are written for patients, family members, and caregivers to address common questions and concerns that come up in day-to-day practice at the Moak Center. Please click on the link, found on the home page, to visit this site.
Frequently Asked Questions
QUESTION: Why is my Medicare copayment higher for Dr. Moak than for any of my other doctors?
ANSWER: Since its inception in 1965, Medicare has a built-in discrimination against Psychiatric treatment provided outside of an inpatient hospital setting. Instead of paying the usual 80% for physician services, Medicare pays only 50%, leaving the beneficiary with a 50% copayment. Medigap plans such as Medex and AARP cover the full 50% copayment, but other types of insurance may not pay the full amount. There is a bill before congress to reform this provision, but it seems unlikely to be enacted in the near future.
Take the caregiver burden test
This questionnaire may help you to recognize whether the stress of caregiving is affecting your own health or your ability to continue to provide care effectively.
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer all of the questions according to the following scoring system: never=0, rarely=1, sometimes=2, quite frequently=3, or nearly always=4. When you have answered all the questions, add up the total score.
DO YOU FEEL...
1. ...that because of the time you spend with your relative that you don't have enough time for yourself?
2. ...stressed between caring for your relative and trying to meet other responsibilities (work/family)?
3. ...angry when you are around your relative?
4. ...that your relative currently affects your relationship with family members or friends in a negative way?
5. ...strained when you are around your relative?
6. ...that your health has suffered because of your involvement with your relative?
7. ...that you don't have as much privacy as you would like because of your relative?
8. ...that your social life has suffered because you are caring for your relative?
9. ...that you have lost control of your life since your relative's illness?
10. ...uncertain about what to do about your relative?
11. ...you should be doing more for your relative?
12. ...you could do a better job of caring for your relative?
If you obtained a score of 17 or higher, your caregiver stress level may be high enough to affect how well you can provide care to your relative. You should consider talking to your doctor or your relative's doctor or another healthcare professional or join a caregiver support group.
The questionnaire was adapted from Bedard M, Molloy DW, Squire L, et.al.: The Zarit Burden Interview: A New Short Version and Screening Version. The Gerontologist 2001; 41: 652-657.
Practice News and Updates
This page provides news about the Moak Center and our staff.
DR. MOAK'S CHAPTER PUBLISHED. Dr. Moak authored a book chapter on psychiatric consultation and liaison in nursing homes in PSYCHIATRY IN LONG-TERM CARE, Second Edition, edited by William Reichman and Paul Katz, just published by Oxford University Press in 2009.
NEW INFORMATIONAL WEBSITE. The Moak Center for Healthy Aging launched an additional website, the MOAK GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY INFORMATION CENTER, for patients, family members, and caregivers. This website offers a newsletter and articles on topics in mental health and aging and geriatric psychiatry and is found at www.moakgeriatricpsychiatry.com
ACTIVITIES AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY. The AAGP had its annual meeting in Honolulu in March 2009. As of the conclusion of this meeting, Dr. Moak completed his term as immediate past-president of the AAGP. At the meeting, Dr. Moak gave two talks: New Developments in Medicare, and Geriatric Psychiatry Workforce Across the Pacific. Cheryl Moak also gave a lecture at the meeting. Her talk, titled BILLING BASICS helped practicing geriatric psychiatrists determine the best way to address their billing needs.
DR. MOAK IN THE BOSTON GLOBE. Dr. Moak was interviewed about mental health and aging for an article that can be found in the July 27, 2008 Boston Globe Magazine (August 2008).
DR. MOAK ELECTED PRESIDENT OF AAGP. Dr. Moak is completing a 3-year term as president of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. This term involved a year as president-elect, one year as president (2007-2008), and a final year as immediate past president (March 2008).
VISIT TO MEDICARE. Last November Dr. Moak attended at meeting at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Government agency responsible for the Medicare Program. He went in his capacity as president of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, and the purpose was to discuss barriers in Medicare policy to expansion of geriatric mental health services. Pictured above is Dr. Moak (left) with colleague Allan Anderson, M.D., chair of AAGP's Public Policy Committee.
FACULTY APPOINTMENT FOR DR. D'ANDREA. Dr. D'Andrea was appointed Affiliate in Psychiatry in the University of Massachusetts Medical School (June, 2007).
News & Views
On this page I present new developments that I think may be of interest to my patients and their families. The opinions presented are my own, and reflect my views about the importance of new research and its significance for my practice.
THE MOVIE "IRIS" IS NOW AVAILABLE ON VHS AND DVD. "Iris" tells the story of Iris Murdoch, an English author who developed Alzheimer's Disease, as told by her husband Professor John Bayley. The movie does a nice job depicting the effects of this tragic disease on patients and their caregivers. I had occasion to meet Professor Bayley personally in Philadelphia in May of 2002. I was lecturing at a symposium on Alzheimer's Disease. Professor Bayley was kind enough to come from England to join our panel in order to share his perspective on caregiving with the audience. He is quite articulate and tells a moving story. The movie "Iris" is based upon his book "Elegy for Iris", and is worth seeing for anyone struggling to understand what the experiences of Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer caregiving are like. (September 2002)
PROGRESS ON AN ALZHEIMER DISEASE VACCINE IS DISAPPOINTING. Hope for a vaccine against beta amyloid, the substance found in the plaques characteristic of Alheimer's Disease, was set back when one of the leading companies researching a vaccine had to stop its human subjects testing due to serious adverse reactions. This approach to creating a vaccine is still felt to be promising, however, and other researchers are continuing their efforts. Unfortunately, it now looks as though there will not be a vaccine for at least several years. (September 2002)
THE FDA ISSUED A WARNING ABOUT KAVA. The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about the risk of severe liver injury associated with the use of kava-containing dietary supplements. Kava (or Kava-kava) is the active ingredient in many herbal treatments for anxiety and tension. Kava-containing products have been associated with liver problems including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure. In view of this warning, I highly recommend that patients not use kava. (September 2002)
Information for your first appointment
By Dr. Moak
THE RECEPTION AREA
The office is located in the J&N Professional Building in the Westboro Shopping Center. A map is enclosed to make it easier to find the entrance. When you arrive for your appointment, there may or may not be someone there to greet you. If there is not, just take a seat and make yourself comfortable. Appointments generally are on time, but occasionally are delayed due to unforeseen problems. If a receptionist is present he or she will advise you if your appointment will run late.
OUR TEAM APPROACH
The Moak Center utilizes a team approach to address the range of problems that face older people and their families. Each patient is treated by one of our physicians, Gary S. Moak, M.D. and Daniel D?Andrea, M.D. In addition to seeing your doctor, you may also spend some time during your visit with our nurse Connie Gardella, RN or social worker Deborah Lebeaux, LICSW.
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU TO YOUR APPOINTMENT
We can accomplish more during your first visit if you bring a few things with you. Please bring all of your medicines. An accurate list is fine, if it is correct and up to date. Please include over-the-counter medications and any herbal treatments you use. If you can obtain copies of your medical records (recent physical examinations, results of tests such as blood work, cardiograms, X-rays, or CAT scans), bring them too. It is not a problem if you do not have these, but please bring them if you do. Also remember to bring your insurance cards in case we need to verify information about your coverage or the claims address of your insurance company.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE RUNNING LATE
If you think you will be late, please call the office number (508) 366-2106 and leave a message advising us that you are on your way. You do not need to call the emergency number. We will try to accomplish what we can in the remaining time and schedule a second appointment to complete the evaluation.
WHAT IF YOU MISS YOUR APPOINTMENT
If you have called in advance to cancel, we will be happy to schedule another appointment. If you failed to advise us that you would not be coming in, then we may still offer you another appointment, but reserve the right to bill you directly for the missed appointment.
Driving Directions to the Moak Center
By Dr. Moak
FROM 495 AND EAST
Take Rt. 9 westbound past Rt.30. At the Burger King, turn left at the light onto Lyman Street. Take the 1st or 2nd right into the Westboro Shopping Center. The building entrance is between The Art Emporium and the Hallmark Card Store, just past Staples.
If you are coming from Rt. 30, take Rt. 30 west past the Hastings Elementary School. At The Willows (a tan residential building) turn right onto Lyman Street. Take the 1st or 2nd left into the Westboro Shopping Center. The building entrance is between The Art Emporium and the Hallmark Card Store, just past Staples.
FROM WORCESTER AND WEST
Take Rt. 9 eastbound into Westboro past the Speedway Plaza (Stop & Shop and BJ?s), the Rotary Driving Range, and Cloverleaf Chevrolet. At the next light, which is Lyman Street, turn right. Take the 1st or 2nd right into the Westboro Shopping Center. The building entrance is between The Art Emporium and the Hallmark Card Store, just past Staples.
If you are coming from Rt. 30, take Rt. 30 eastbound from the Westboro rotary past the Westboro Savings Bank and Fallon Clinic, on the left. Take the next left onto Lyman Street. Take the 1st or 2nd left into the Westboro Shopping Center. The building entrance is between The Art Emporium and the Hallmark Card Store, just past Staples.
Services We Provide
By Dr. Moak
MEDICARE-COVERED SERVICES
The Moak Center for Health Aging Participates with Medicare and provides a range of services that are covered by Medicare:
Geriatric psychiatry diagnostic evaluation
Medical management
Assessment of drug and illness effects on mental health and behavior
Individual psychotherapy
Marital and family therapy
Group therapy
Caregiver counseling
Behavioral counseling
Symptom management counseling
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
The Moak Center for Healthy Aging also offers other services to patients, families, and healthcare facilities that usually are not covered by insurance:
Caregiver education and training classes
Family disease management
education consultation
Legal consultation
Educational lectures and workshops for professionals
Inservice training for long term care facility staff and community agencies
