Geropsychology and long term care

The ever-increasing population of older adults residing in nursing homes and long-term care communities, as reflected in numerous demographic studies, point out a clear need for geropsychologists i.e., trained specialists in the field of aging and mental health, to meet the needs of this nation's older adults. This Manual will provide a needed resource for psychologists working in long-term care settings and those who wish to do so. Key outcomes include the provision of high quality psychological services for this important but neglected sector namely, people living in nursing homes, assisted living communities and other LTC settings. This text will be of great value to psychologists currently working in long-term care settings who have had graduate work in geropsychology, yet desire more in-depth and practical training. A second audience includes those individuals who may have a leaning towards expanding their professional activities in long-term care and are seeking additional preparation before doing more work with older adults. A third group is comprised of those individuals who are not psychologists, yet have had some training and coursework in aging and mental health. This Manual serves as an important complement to previous training. This text can also be useful to guide geropsychologists in the training of non-specialists who will in turn be able to pass this knowledge onto others via careful study of its contents.