I work in psych but am just a nursing student so don't take my word for it, but many geriatric patients that are agitated respond well to benydral- better than most of the other meds. It is not supposed to depress their system as much. Haldol can sometimes have paradoxical effects on the elderly causing more agitation and even akathesia. Again, this is just what I 've learned from working in psych and not as a practitioner.