INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOGERIATRIC ASSOCIATION (IPA): TOPICS IN AGING AND MENTAL HEALTH

Abstract

This session will describe some of the specific efforts of IPA and its members to broaden geriatric care, and to advance the science that provides the evidence base to insure best practices. Mary Sano will present the history, and updating process of the series entitled “Complete Guides to Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD)” which has been prepared for dementia experts, primary care physicians and nursing staff. This long commitment informs IPA in its role in leading efforts to create meaningful definitions of neuropsychiatric symptoms of cognitive impairment and dementia. Through international efforts and broad collaborations, IPA has convened stakeholders to provide consensus for diagnoses for these disturbing conditions that has permitted the advancement of new therapeutic trials and defined approval pathways. Maria Lapid will evaluate the global need for training of geriatric psychiatry to serve the many setting in which the specialty is not available. The curriculum will be described with use case examples of how this type of training can provide greater access to care. The topics include depression, anxiety and stress reduction as well as dementia management. The goal is to inform trainees about the high likelihood of comorbidity and the challenges it presents to care delivery. William Reichman will discuss the breath of long-term care models including the desire for choice and the need for integrating health services and living situations. IPA members joined the Long-Term Care Alliance for Aging in Place, an inter-disciplinary, multi-sector consortium established to create a vision for how society will best serve the needs of older adults with care for cognitive and physical frailty. This activity invites visionary thinkers committed to transforming the very concept and implementation of long-term care. Mary Austrom, longtime member of IPA, like other members shares alliances and roles with many organizations and will describe the “Dementia Care Practice Recommendations to define quality care”. Practice recommendations were developed to help community-based providers, patients and caregivers to deliver quality care in on-going medical management. After a diagnosis of dementia, many decisions about medical care service and settings arise and these guides provide well organized principles using a holistic, person-centered approach to decision making. They encourage open honest dialogue with a focus on patient comfort through advanced planning and discussion. We hope these presentations will provide an introduction to the breadth of expertise and commitment among IPA members, and that it will encourage participation and collaboration among attendees and AAGP members