ABSTRACT
In low- and middle-income countries, there is an increase in the percentage of aging population similar to or greater than that of high-income countries (World Population Ageing 1950-2050, UN, 2001). The emerging health and economical challenges due to these demographic changes will have to be addressed by their health systems. In this context, an adequate training of available human resources in geriatric psychiatry/psychogeriatrics (GP/PG) should be an essential step to meet those challenges.
Subject(s)
Geriatric Psychiatry/education , Internship and Residency , Adult , Aged , Argentina , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Health Services Needs and Demand , Health Workforce , Humans , Male , Mental HealthABSTRACT
Mental health for older adults is a looming public health problem. Yet, geriatric mental health specialists are a scarce commodity, and few generalists have had formal education in either geriatrics or mental health. A multilevel collaboration using a diffusion of innovation model served to achieve change nationally in preparing entry-and advanced practice-level nurses to improve the mental health of older Americans. The John A. Hartford Foundation Geropsychiatric Nursing Collaborative at the American Academy of Nursing is the exemplar described here. The Geropsychiatric Nursing Collaborative developed and infused mental health competency enhancements for generalist and specialist nurses; identified and disseminated teaching-learning strategies to convey related key concepts using the POGOe (Portal of Geriatric Online Education) website; raised awareness through multiple presentations and publications; and notified deans of every school of nursing about these new resources. Fully embracing diffusion of innovation principles, the Geropsychiatric Nursing Collaborative is achieving change in this critical area of nursing practice.
Subject(s)
Education, Nursing/organization & administration , Geriatric Nursing/education , Geriatric Psychiatry/education , Models, Nursing , Psychiatric Nursing/education , Aged , Clinical Competence , Diffusion of Innovation , Education, Nursing/standards , Geriatric Nursing/organization & administration , Geriatric Psychiatry/organization & administration , Humans , Organizational Innovation , Psychiatric Nursing/organization & administration , United StatesABSTRACT
The authors present recommendations for educating medical students and psychiatric residents in geropsychiatry. They are primarily concerned with the objectives and methods rather than the content of training. Proposals are structured in terms of training objectives and educational settings in which such training takes place. The proposals are intended to be specific enough to be truly useful and at the same time sufficiently generalizable to adapt to geropsychiatric training in a variety of institutions. Priority is given to integrating knowledge of normal and abnormal aging with the clinical skills and empathy necessary to approach patients with competence and understanding.