Psychology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Brockton, Massachusetts, USA.
Am Psychol. 2012 Apr;67(3):184-98. doi: 10.1037/a0025393. Epub 2011 Sep 26.
Until relatively recently, most psychologists have had limited professional involvement with older adults. With the baby boomers starting to turn 65 years old in 2011, sheer numbers of older adults will continue to increase. About 1 in 5 older adults has a mental disorder, such as dementia. Their needs for mental and behavioral health services are not now adequately met, and the decade ahead will require an approximate doubling of the current level of psychologists' time with older adults. Public policy in the coming decade will face tensions between cost containment and facilitation of integrated models of care. Most older adults who access mental health services do so in primary care settings, where interdisciplinary, collaborative models of care have been found to be quite effective. To meet the needs of the aging population, psychologists need to increase awareness of competencies for geropsychology practice and knowledge regarding dementia diagnosis, screening, and services. Opportunities for psychological practice are anticipated to grow in primary care, dementia and family caregiving services, decision-making-capacity evaluation, and end-of-life care. Aging is an aspect of diversity that can be integrated into psychology education across levels of training. Policy advocacy for geropsychology clinical services, education, and research remains critical. Psychologists have much to offer an aging society.
直到最近，大多数心理学家对老年人的专业参与度都很有限。随着婴儿潮一代在 2011 年开始年满 65 岁，老年人的数量将继续增加。大约每 5 个老年人中就有 1 人患有精神障碍，如痴呆症。他们对精神和行为健康服务的需求现在还没有得到充分满足，未来十年将需要将心理学家为老年人提供服务的时间增加一倍左右。未来十年的公共政策将面临成本控制与促进综合护理模式之间的紧张关系。大多数寻求心理健康服务的老年人都是在初级保健环境中进行的，在这种环境中，已经发现跨学科、协作的护理模式非常有效。为了满足老龄化人口的需求，心理学家需要提高对老年心理学实践能力的认识，以及对痴呆症诊断、筛查和服务的了解。预计在初级保健、痴呆症和家庭护理服务、决策能力评估以及临终关怀等领域，心理实践的机会将会增加。老龄化是多样性的一个方面，可以在各级培训中纳入心理学教育。倡导为老年心理学临床服务、教育和研究提供政策支持仍然至关重要。心理学家可以为老龄化社会做出很多贡献。
