We know that our population is aging and becoming more diverse. We need a work force of psychologists with sufficient education and training to effectively attend to the special psychological and behavioral health needs of older adults, across communities and levels of care. Unfortunately, at this time, there are insufficient numbers of practitioners ready to meet this need. We also know that older adults are at greater risk than younger people with our silo based, hierarchically structured health care system; with regulations, policies and practices that all too often inhibit optimal outcomes. In an effort to address these and other concerns, in June 2005, Division 42 supported the development of the Older Adult and Aging Interest Group.
The Division 42 Older Adult and Aging Interest Group is comprised of now 63 dedicated psychologists in independent practice, with special interest in working with older adults and their families, across the continuum of care and across diverse communities, working together to advance both care and practice. We work to meet the psychological/mental/emotional/behavioral health needs of older adults through clinical work, public advocacy, education, training, information sharing and/or participation in research; creating networking opportunities with other independent practitioners with a special interest in working with older adults.
The D42 Aging IG elist enhances communication among members, shares important information about public policies, changing/developing regulations, work opportunities, clinical questions or thoughts and facilitates efforts to advance care and practice with older adults. We also work to share important information with the Division and APA as a whole. We seek to educate and stimulate interest in working with older adults. For example, in 2006 D42 OA IG members developed and presented the symposium, “Clinical and Practical Considerations When Working with Older Adults”.
We encourage all D42 independent practitioners to take advantage of the substantive aging programming at the upcoming 2008 APA Convention, including an all day CE workshop, “What Psychologists Should Know about Working with Older Adults” (see: http://apadiv20.phhp.ufl.edu/Precon5_CONA.pdf), so we can be well prepared and positioned to maintain our important leadership role in advancing the health and wellbeing of older adults and those that care for them. Stay tuned for more information that will be posted on the D42 elist in the upcoming months.
Anyone interested in joining these efforts can go to: http://lists.apa.org/cgi-bin/wa.exe?SUBED1=DIV42OLDERADULTINTERESTGROUP&A=1
