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Psychotherapy and behavior change with the non-institutionalized aged
International Journal of Aging & Human Development
|January 1, 1978
Summary
Older adults need more mental health services, facing barriers like provider prejudice and poverty. Psychotherapy for the elderly shares core techniques but focuses on age-specific content, with behavior therapy showing promise.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychiatry
- Mental Health Services Research
Background:
- The elderly population is underserved by mental health services relative to their needs.
- Significant barriers hinder access, including provider bias, economic hardship, and insufficient public commitment.
- Existing literature on psychotherapy for older adults is reviewed since 1959.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on psychotherapy for aged individuals in community settings.
- To identify the unique aspects and challenges of therapy with elderly clients.
- To explore the role of behavior therapy in geriatric mental health.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of studies published since 1959.
- Analysis of research on the goals, content, and techniques of psychotherapy for the aged.
- Discussion of barriers to mental health service utilization by the elderly.
Main Results:
- Elderly individuals receive mental health care disproportionately less than their population share and need.
- Key barriers include prejudices from care providers, poverty among the aged, and lack of public commitment.
- Psychotherapy with the elderly client differs mainly in content focus, not fundamental techniques, compared to younger adults.
Conclusions:
- Therapy with the aged person requires tailored content areas within established psychotherapeutic frameworks.
- Addressing systemic barriers is crucial to improving mental health service access for older adults.
- Behavior therapy presents a valuable modality for geriatric mental health treatment programs.