Geriatric Psychiatry emphasizes the biological and psychological aspects of normal aging, the psychiatric impact of acute and chronic physical illness, and the biological and psychosocial aspects of the pathology of primary psychiatric disturbances of older age. Geriatric psychiatrists focus on prevention, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders in the elderly, and improvement of psychiatric care for healthy and ill elderly patients. The APA offers educational, policy and clinical resources, and links to provide support to these psychiatrists.
APA Council on Geriatric Psychiatry
The Council on Geriatric Psychiatry focuses on the special needs of older adults and thus stands at the interface of psychiatry with other medical specialties. It recognizes that integration of care is vital to the well-being of our patients. The Council accomplishes its goals by initiatives related to education, research and clinical care in geriatric psychiatry.
The specific areas that continue to require significant input by the APA, as embodied by the Council on Geriatric Psychiatry, include:
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Provide leadership in geriatric psychiatry
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Work collaboratively with other professional and advocacy groups to develop best practices in geriatric psychiatry
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Provide education and training to other physicians (including, but not limited to psychiatrists), residents, and medical students at scientific meetings and in other settings about the special needs of geriatric populations with mental illness.
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Evaluate existing public policy, services and third‑party funding mechanisms for psychiatric care of older adults;
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Develop educational materials on the needs of persons who are mentally ill older adults and about the role of psychiatrists in meeting those needs. These materials may be targeted for medical and non-medical audiences.
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Support and/or lead ongoing efforts to improve the recruitment of psychiatrists into geriatric psychiatry fellowship programs.
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Identify and implement research into end of life issues and advance care planning, especially for people with mental illness, including populations of cultural, racial, and religious diversity.
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Work with other components and/or organizations on health care policy initiatives in geriatric psychiatry:
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the evaluation and design of delivery systems, models of care, and payment mechanisms aimed at promoting high degrees of quality and cost-effectiveness for geriatric populations;
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help the APA advocate at the federal and state level, and in public forums, for greater attention to excellence in end of life care, which includes psychiatric and psychosocial interventions;
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develop APA position papers on geriatric psychiatry;
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collaborate with the APA Council on Medical Education and Lifelong Learning to identify and/or create curricula for trainees and practicing psychiatrists on psychiatric aspects of palliative care; and
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create mutual objectives and work collaboratively with other professional and advocacy societies to develop recommendations for quality geriatric psychiatric care end of life care.
American Psychiatric Association's Hartfort-Jeste Award for Future Leaders in Geriatric Psychiatry - Call for Nominations
This award recognizes an early‐career geriatric psychiatrist who has made noteworthy contributions to enhancing the field of geriatric psychiatry through excellence in research, teaching, clinical practice, and community service, and has demonstrated the potential to develop into a future leader in the field. The award will consist of a plaque and a check for $ 1,000. It will be presented to an individual psychiatrist, who holds a position no higher than Assistant Professor and is no more than 7 Years removed from completion of a geriatric psychiatry fellowship.
Submission Requirements: Nominations for this award must come from APA Members. All applications should include a detailed nomination letter highlighting the nominee’s contributions to geriatric psychiatry, and two additional letters of support highlighting more specific facets of the nominee’s career and contributions. At least one letter should be from a geriatric psychiatrist familiar with the nominee’s work, and two of the letters should come from people outside of the nominee’s institution. Applications should also include a copy of the nominee’s CV that includes a list of publications as well as grant support.
Deadline: February 26. Send nominations to Rosa Bracey at rbracey@psych.org.
Jack Weinberg Memorial Award for Geriatric Psychiatry
Established in 1983 in memory of Jack Weinberg, M.D., this award honors a psychiatrist who has demonstrated special leadership or who has done outstanding work in clinical practice, training, or research into geriatric psychiatry. Candidates for the award must be psychiatrists who are nominated by an APA member. Honorarium: $500 and plaque presented at the APA Convocation.
Submission Requirements: A nomination letter summarizing the accomplishments of the nominee; two letters of endorsement from APA members, a current c.v., and bibliography.
Deadline: July 31. Send nominations to Rosa Bracey at rbracey@psych.org.
Geriatric Psychiatry Resources:
Policy Guidance and Clinical Resources
Partner Organizations:
Partners Page