Psychological Practice With Older Adults
Publication Date: March 11, 2024
Last Updated: March 12, 2024
Attitudes
Psychologists are encouraged to work with older adults within their scope of competence.
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Psychologists are encouraged to recognize ways in which their attitudes and beliefs about aging and about older adults may be relevant to their assessment and treatment of older adults, and to seek consultation or further education about these issues when indicated.
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Psychologists are encouraged to increase their knowledge, understanding, and skills with respect to working with older adults through training, supervision, consultation, and continuing education, and to apply their expertise in advocacy to support the psychological well-being of older adults.
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General Knowledge About Adult Development, Aging, and the Older Adult Population
Psychologists strive to gain knowledge about theory and research in aging.
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Psychologists strive to be aware of the social and psychological dynamics of the aging process.
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Psychologists strive to understand diversity in the aging process, particularly how sociocultural factors such as sex, gender identity, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, immigration status, sexual orientation, disability status, religion, spirituality, employment status, and urban/rural residence may influence the experience and expression of health and of psychological problems in later life.
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Psychologists strive to be familiar with current information about biological and healthrelated aspects of aging.
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Foundations of Geropsychology Practice
Psychologists strive to be knowledgeable about psychopathology within the aging population and cognizant of the prevalence and nature of that psychopathology when providing services to older adults.
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Psychologists strive to be familiar with current knowledge about normal and diseasemediated cognitive changes in older adults.
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Psychologists strive to understand and address issues pertaining to the provision of services in the specific settings in which older adults are typically located or encountered.
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Psychologists strive to be familiar with the application of telehealth practices and policies in assessing and treating older adults across settings and living situations.
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In working with older adults, psychologists are encouraged to understand the importance of interfacing with other disciplines, and to make referrals to other disciplines and/or to work with them in collaborative teams and across a range of sites, as appropriate.
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Psychologists strive to understand the special ethical and/or legal issues entailed in providing services to older adults.
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Psychologists strive to be knowledgeable about public policy, state and federal laws and regulations related to the provision of and reimbursement for psychological services to older adults and the business of practice.
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Assessment
Psychologists strive to understand the functional capacity of older adults in their own social and physical environment.
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Psychologists strive to be familiar with the theory, research, and practice of various methods of assessment with older adults, and knowledgeable of assessment instruments that are culturally and psychometrically suitable for use with them.
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Psychologists strive to develop skill at conducting and interpreting cognitive and functional ability evaluations with older adults.
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Intervention
Psychologists strive to be familiar with the theory, research, and practice of various methods of intervention with older adults, particularly with current research evidence about their efficacy with this age group.
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Psychologists strive to develop skills in adapting psychotherapeutic interventions, including environmental modification, in a manner sensitive to cultural and other individual differences among older adults.
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Consultation
Psychologists strive to recognize and address issues related to the provision of prevention and health promotion services for older adults.
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Psychologists strive to understand issues pertaining to the provision of consultation services in assisting older adults.
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The information in this patient summary should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
Title
Psychological Practice With Older Adults
Publication Month/Year
March 11, 2024
Last Updated Month/Year
March 13, 2024
Country of Publication
US
Document Objectives
The “Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Older Adults” are intended to assist psychologists in evaluating their own readiness for working with older adults, as well as seeking and using appropriate education and training to increase their knowledge, skills, and experience relevant to this area of practice. Although “older adults” typically refers to persons 60-65 years of age and older, gerontological researchers and policy makers increasingly recognize that this demarcation is socially constructed, and is linked to many socio-cultural referents, including family status, lived experience, and health conditions that vary widely across generational cohorts and socioeconomic and cultural groups.
Inclusion Criteria
Male, Female, Older adult
Health Care Settings
Ambulatory, Hospital, Long term care
Intended Users
Nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant, psychologist
Scope
Counseling, Management
Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)
D005852 - Geriatric Psychiatry
Keywords
older adults, psychology
Source Citation
American Psychological Association (2024). Guidelines for Psychological Practice With Older Adults. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines/older-adults.pdf