Mental Health Concerns and The Older Adult
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COURSE OVERVIEW The healthcare worker meeting mental health needs will be able to view the older adult within the context of aging theories and identify interpersonal connection, bio- psychosocial elements, and the assessment and treatment for common mental health problems in the older adult. The target audience is any healthcare worker who will as- sess, intervene, or treat mental health needs of an older adult client. Registered nurses, mental health technicians, mental health providers, case managers, and primary care healthcare workers can benefit from the perspective provided by this course.
LEARNING OUTCOMES ● Examine the most common theories on aging, developmental tasks, and reflection from the older adult perspective. ● Evaluate essential components of the therapeutic alliance with the older adult. ● Demonstrate verbal communication styles that enhance the interpersonal connection with the older adult. ● Differentiate the social determinants of health and the barriers to care for the older adult. INTRODUCTION Aging is a normal biological process. It is a distinctive, often progressive, nat- ural decline in functioning that includes all body systems— cardiovascular, en- docrine, immune, and neurological, to note a few. Elderly is a term often used interchangeably with older adult , which the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry (Lundebjerg et al., 2017) de- fines as those age 65 years and older, which qualifies them for Medicare eligi - bility. This patient population is projected to double from 2015 to 2050 worldwide (World Health Organization, 2017). As the world population rapidly increases, so too do mental health needs. Every- one will experience aging on some level, but differing populations will advance at
● Select recommended assessment considerations for the older adult. ● Appraise biopsychosocial considerations for the assessment for the older adult. ● Analyze crisis, loss, grief, and bereavement for the older adult. ● Distinguish risk factors, treatment, and recovery for the older adult with a mental health diagnosis. different rates. However, increasing age is not proportionally associated with de- clining intellectual and physical capacity. Older adults with mental health needs are a population subset with specific charac - teristics for the healthcare worker. The ability to thoroughly assess and diagnose, individualize care (whether lifestyle relat- ed or pharmacologic), and tailor mental health interventions for the older adult can improve quality care and safety. The unique presentation of the older adult can provide a better understanding for assessment, intervention, and treatment considerations for the healthcare worker addressing the mental health needs of the older adult.
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