Lecture 7 Flashcards
Developments in professional geropsychology
1993 - section 2 of APA division 12 was established. 1997 - APA committee on agig (CONA) founded. 1998 - APA office on aging began. 2003 - APA guidelines for psychological practice with older populations. 2006 - Pikes Peak Conference. 2009 - Pikes Peak Model for competency in geropsychology. 2014 - APA guideliens revised.
Clinical work with older adults
62% of licensed psychologists work with older adults to some degree (APA, 2015). Only 1% of those said their primary work was with older adults. 16% of people in the US are older adults (over 65). Fewer than 30% report having any graduate coursework in geropsychology. Only 33% report having had any supervised practicum or internship experience with older adults.
Guidelines for psychological practice with older adults
- Competence in and attitudes towards working with older adults. General knowledge about adult development, aging, and older adults. Clinical issues. Assessment. Intervention, consultation, and other service provision. Professional issues and education.
Ageism
Prejudice toward or stereotyping of and/or discrimination against people simply because they are perceived as, or defined as, “old.” MH professionals display age bias. They express reluctance to work with older adults and perceive them as less interesting, having poorer prognosis, more set in their ways, and less likely to benefit from MH services. Common negative stereotypes: mentally incompetent, higher rates of mental illness, no interest in sex, inflexible and stubborn
Guidelines 2014
General knowledge about adult development, aging, and older adults. Strive to gain knowledge about theory and research, strive to be aware of the social/psychological dynamics of the aging process, strive to understand diversity in the aging process, strive to be familiar with current information about biological and health-related aspects of aging. Clinical issues: strive to be familiar with knowledge about cognitive changes in older adults, strive to understand the functional capacity of older adults in the social and physical environment. Strive to be knowledgeable about psychopathology within the aging population. Assessment: strive to be familiar with the theory, research, and practice of various methods of assessment with older adults. Strive to develop skill in accommodating older adults’ specific characteristics and the assessment contexts. Strive to develop skill at conducting and interpreting cognitive and functional daily ability evaluations. Intervention, consultation, and other service provision: strive to be familiar with theory, research, and practice of various methods of intervention with older adults. To be familiar with and develop skill in applying culturally sensitive interventions and environmental modifications. Understand issues pertaining to provision of services in specific settings in which older adults are located. Recognize issues related to provision of prevention and health promotion services. Understand issues pertaining to provision of consultation. Understand importance of interfacing with other disciplines to make referrals and to work with them. To understand special ethical and legal issues in providing services to older adults. Education: to be knowledgeable about public policy and state and federal laws. To increase their knowledge, understanding, and skills with working with older adults through continuing education, supervision, training, and consultation.
Assessment resources
Guidelines for the evaluation of dementia and age-related cognitive decline (1998) - 85 plus the rate of dementia is 25-50% depending on the study. Assessment of older adults with diminished capacity: a handbook for psychologists (2008). Age related changes: older majorities have more resources, older minorities more often in poverty. Biological changes - decreased sensory activity, weakened immune system. Cognitive - processing slower, memory worse, attention, reaction time slower. Assessment: MMPI2-RF - not many people in normative sample over 70. Functional skills - driving, living independently, handling finances, making medical decisions, making a will. Older adults do respond well to psychotherapy.
Elder abuse
4.3 million in US (2009). 4-7% abused by someone they trust. 90% not reported (only some states require reporting). Rates higher amongst those with chronic health problems or cognitive decline. Self-neglect (esp. those with chronic problems, can get to the point of being life-threatening). 14% experiencing psychological abuse. More women than men are abused.
Forms of abuse
Rights violation. Financial abuse (most common), psychological abuse (2nd most common?), rights violation (3rd?), physical abuse (4th most common?), neglect, also sexual abuse happens.
Pikes Peak Geropsychology Knowledge and Skill Assessment Tool
Council of professional geropsychology training programs (coPGTP 2012). To evaluate progress in developing geropsychology competencies, evaluates knowledge base and skill set.
