Ethical Practices with Older Adults, Revised Updated 1st Edition

Course overview

In the coming years, healthcare professionals will increasingly face the aging of the population, along with the accompanying health and economic challenges. The purpose of this course is to highlight ethical issues that may confront healthcare and behavioral health professionals working with older adults and their families as these individuals near the end of life. Many of these issues are related to advances in medical technologies that have occurred over the past several decades (and that continue to be developed) and have led to increasingly complex choices. The course will provide background on ethical frameworks and principles used in healthcare settings for guidance in resolving ethical problems. This course will also identify major ethical issues concerning older adults and healthcare decisions and provide a model for addressing ethical dilemmas in healthcare settings. This basic-level course is written for healthcare professionals, including social workers, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, respiratory therapists, and occupational and physical therapy practitioners. Other healthcare professionals who work with older adults and on interdisciplinary teams will also find the information presented useful to their practice.