Mental Health & Older Adults, Part 2: Mental Illness in Later Life
Tracking # 20-703147
Course overview
Worldwide, approximately 20% of the population age 60 and over suffer from psychiatric illnesses and neurological disorders. An estimated 50 million people live with neurocognitive disorders (dementias). The most prevalent neuropsychiatric conditions in the older adult are anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and severe cognitive impairment. In nursing homes, two-thirds of residents suffer from some form of diagnosable mental health illness. As the population of older adults grows, so will the need for healthcare providers knowledgeable in geriatric mental health and illness. This second part of a two-part series on aging examines psychiatric conditions most common in older adults.
Subject areas
This course counts toward the state boards and subject areas below.