Geriatric psychiatry training in Canada: current teaching facilities and resources

A survey of Canadian psychiatry residency programs requested information on training activities in geriatric psychiatry. Fourteen out of sixteen programs responded. On average ten hours of didactic instruction were provided per year over the four years of the residency program. Only one program had no facility that provided a rotation in geriatric psychiatry. The majority of programs have policies that encourage exposure of trainees to the care of the elderly. There is a concentration of teachers of this sub-specialty in a minority of centres. These findings are discussed in the light of current and future needs in the care of the elderly. Recommendations for meeting these are proposed.