Contextual Issues of elder care discusses issues such as gender, environment, diversity concerns; ageism, and therapeutic nihilism. Assessment and training recommendations for providers of care to the elderly are provided. This study is part of a series of studies on palliative care for mental health professionals. The course can be taken as stand-alone course or may be taken in sequence for a more comprehensive exploration of the topic.
Developed by: Karen Albig Smith, LMFT, LCAS, MAC, CAP, SAP, SAE
2004
Revised 2024
Description of the whole series: Module One is designed to give a bio-psychosocial overview of older adulthood including theories of aging, and the processes of normal aging. Module Two: Common mental health problems of the elderly, covers demographics of the elder population and common mental and behavioral health problems encountered in older populations. Module Three: Caregiving and care delivery. Among the more compelling concerns are end-of-life issues. The course discusses advanced directives and the concept of medical futility and the common problems associated with these decisions.
This module: Module Four Contextual Issues of Elder Care: Discrimination through negative stereotypes and prejudice puts elderly patients' physical and mental health at risk. In medical management, everything should be tried if the patient has a strong will to live. Age should not be a factor in deciding the level of medical care a patient receives, and it is essential to prioritize the patient's will to live regardless of their age. This emphasizes the significance of addressing age-related discrimination in medical care to ensure that all patients are treated with the same level of care and respect. This module will take a more in-depth look at those contextual issues and describe the importance of care teams and comprehensive assessments when caring for older adults.
Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to discuss the status of the specialty of geriatric mental health.
2. Participants will be able to describe the context issues pertinent to elder care.
CE Credits: 1 (NBCC Hours - 1)
Agenda:
Hour One: Geriatric mental health, Contextual issues of aging.
CE Broker #: 20-38519
Methods: Pre-test, study guide, posttest and evaluation, internet sources via URLs, Q&A by email.
Content Area; Special population/problems.
Purpose: Professionals will be equipped to understand contextual influences that may impact their services to older clients.
Target Audience: Social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, mental health counselors, psychiatric nurses, employee assistance professionals, addiction professionals, behavioral health technicians, and other allied professionals.
