Clinical practice: A foundational geropsychology knowledge competency.

Abstract

Most psychologists who provide services to older adults have not received professional training and education in geropsychology. To meet the mental health needs of the growing population of older adults, psychologists without specialty training would benefit from developing foundational knowledge competencies for clinical practice with older adults. Clinical care of older adults offers unique challenges as mental disorders are often complicated by medical illnesses, functional impairments, and latelife stressors, which contribute to under-detection and under-treatment. Age-and disease-related cognitive, sensory, and functional changes necessitate treatment adaptations and a holistic approach to care to maximize older adults' adjustment to aging and overall well-being. This article reviews the foundations of clinical practice with older adults. Specific topics covered are psychopathology in late life, neuroscience of aging, functional changes in late life, common medical illnesses in older adults, and the concept of person-environment interaction as it relates to adaptation in the context of functional changes. Public Health Significance StatementGeneralist psychologists without specialty training in geropsychology will be tasked with providing care to a growing patient population of adults 65 years of age and older. To meet this demand, all providers should attain foundational knowledge competencies in clinical practice with older adults. Dissemination of foundational knowledge competencies in geropsychology is a vital step in enhancing the mental health workforce in preparation to meet the unprecedented growth in the number of older adult patients and their families.

Knowledge of aging reduces risk of harm: Why you need to read this special issue.

“…Medical comorbidities are a particularly important context for assessment (Mast et al, 2021) and intervention (Jacobs & Bamonti, 2021; Lind et al, 2021). As noted frequently in the literature, changes in functional health and cognition are key characteristics of later life that impact practice.…”

“…For psychologists who work, in complex health care service systems, building professional consultation competencies enable them to participate in improving the lives of older adults through interprofessional partnerships (Lind et al, 2021). The nearly universal presence of chronic disease in the later decades of the lifespan offers opportunities for psychologists to practice in integrated care settings to address behavioral health concerns related disease prevention, management, and maintenance (Jacobs & Bamonti, 2021; Lind et al, 2021; Mast et al, 2021). Psychologists have long practiced in long-term care, especially nursing homes, but are far less often found tightly partnered with community agencies that focus on home health, hospice, senior housing, adult protective services, or legal services.…”

“…Furthermore, the research literature on what is distinct about the aging process and the later period of human life is proliferating rapidly. The documentation of cultural attitudes toward aging (Garrison-Diehn et al, 2021), distinctive symptom presentations of mental disorders late in life (Jacobs & Bamonti, 2021), and evidence-based treatments and practices (Jacobs & Bamonti, 2021; Lind et al, 2021) illustrate the growing scientific base for practice with older adults. The articles in this special issue do a remarkable job of summarizing what is now a vast literature on aging in a form that can be used by psychologists who do not intend to be experts in geropsychology, to ensure adequate understanding of the aging process to support effective health services for older adults.…”