Career opportunities for students interested in psychology and aging are expanding. People 65 years old and older are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. By 2030 older adults will account for 21% of our nation’s people, up from 15% in 2014 (Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics, 2016). And, although there is a broad range of exciting opportunities in psychological research and practice focusing on older adults, there are not enough psychologists to keep pace with the increasing demand.
Geropsychology is the field within psychology that applies the knowledge and methods of psychology to understanding and helping older persons and their families maintain well-being, overcome problems, and achieve maximum potential during later life.
As with younger adults, a variety of treatable mental health disorders affect older adults. In fact, older adults have the highest rates of suicide of any age group in the U.S., and depression is its foremost risk factor. In addition, stressors common in late life such as loss of loved ones, relocation, health conditions, caregiving demands, change in employment status, and poverty significantly affect the health and independence of older adults. Geropsychologists address these and other issues as diverse as family relationships, memory, sexuality, capacity assessment, health promotion, and substance abuse.
Through their research, psychologists have contributed significantly to the understanding and treatment of the major health concerns of our time: heart disease, cancer, mental disorders, dementia, chronic pain, and arthritis, among others. Geropsychologists are at the forefront of research on questions related to health and aging. Why are most older adults successful in adapting to the stressors of late life while others become suicidal? Why do most older adults remain mentally sharp while others have memory problems? Research on the aging brain provides clues to the risks and protective factors for mental disorders relevant to individuals across the life span.
It’s an exciting time in geropsychology
In 2010, professional geropsychology became a specialty in professional psychology. In 2012, the Institute of Medicine study The Mental Health and Substance Use Workforce for Older Adults: In Whose Hands? highlighted the urgency of expanding and strengthening this workforce to meet the demands of our rapidly aging and changing population. In 2014, the APA guidelines for psychological practice with older adults were updated as official APA policy and geropsychology was recognized as a specialty by the American Board of Professional Psychology.
It’s a time of growth for geropsychology
The number of older adults is growing, there is a growing understanding and support for efforts to address their mental and behavioral health needs, and career opportunities in psychology and aging are growing.
