Research consistently indicates that older adults utilize mental health services at significantly lower rates than younger adults, yet the overall prevalence of mental health disorders remains roughly the same across all age cohorts (Narrow, et al. 2002). Therefore, even though older adults represent 13% of the U.S. population, they receive only 6% of community mental health services. Worse yet, many older adults go untreated all together and add to the disproportionately high suicide rate among older adults (American Association of Suicidology, 2006).
For treatments utilized by geriatric mental health programs, the research to date has demonstrated that several psychotherapy treatments are as effective as, if not more than, psychotropic drugs in older adults. Therapy and counseling is also the treatment that most older adults prefer (Gellis, 2006). The bulk of the evidence thus far, points to using a variety or combination of treatments with older adults, such as reminisce, cognitive behavioral, and/or problem solving therapies (Scogin, et al., 2005). A very practical approach to psychotherapy is typically necessary for this population, and individual therapy has shown to be more successful than group therapy for the current cohort of older adults (Night, 2004).
Since this is a population that spans decades in years lived, includes every personality type imaginable, and who have experienced many of the same major world events in extremely different ways depending on where they grew up, how much schooling they received, what American ethnic sub-culture they belong, which religion they identify with, if they worked outside or inside the home, how they were affected by the dust bowl and great depression, which side they stood during military conflicts, the women’s liberation movement, the civil rights movement, or the gay-rights movement, whether or not they have relationships with their families today, and whether or not they actively chose to process their lives as they approach death, it is imperative for therapists to take these clients’ opinions and life experiences into the decision of how they work with each client. It seems true that with this very diverse and growing population that meeting the client where they are is the most important approach for us to apply.
As the only MSW student in the 2009 graduating class at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University who was specifically interested in and focused on working clinically with older adults and promoting positive mental health among this population, I clearly understand why each community needs social workers and other therapists to focus specifically on the needs of our aging population. Over the past seven months that I have worked with Pathways for Aging, I have grown in my commitment and passion for improving the quality of life for all older adults and using therapeutic approaches that best suit the needs of each person. As the population of adults over 65 years old continues to explode from 13% of the U.S. population today to an estimated 20% by 2030 (U.S. DHHS & Administration on Aging, 2001), I look forward to working with the older adults of today and tomorrow.
Tags: Aging with Grace, Depression in the Elderly, Elderly Issues, Mental Health
