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You are here: Text Only Home > Intermediary Role: Geriatric Specialist > What to look for as a Geriatric Specialist
 
What to look for as a Geriatric Specialist
 
Introduction

Lack of hope and depression are not part of the normal aging process, not even in older adults who are terminally ill.   The belief that hopelessness and depression are normal for older adults can limit the detection of clinically depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.   Geriatric specialists work with a population at high risk for suicide.  

 

Older adults are a high risk group and have some unique identifiers or associated factors compared to adolescents, young adults, and adults in their middle years.   By attending to age specific and general associated factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, older adults have a greater opportunity for appropriate treatment leading to longer and happier lives.

 

Learn and increase awareness

Learning about suicide and increasing awareness about associated factors, appropriate treatments, and what needs to be done in an emergency situation can help geriatric specialists help colleagues and clients.

 

There are some general considerations specific to suicide in older adults like (Reference 1):

  • Greater likelihood that older adults will die following a suicide attempt
  • Greater prevalence of indirect self-destructive behaviors, such as poor-adherence to treatment regiments...

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References for What to look for as a Geriatric Specialist
Case Study
The following clinical example illustrates how a Geriatric Specialist in an assisted living setting might encounter a veiled threat and the subtle signs and symptoms associated with a suicidal client.

 

Forest is an aid employed by an assisted living facility.   Forest is responsible for regularly checking in on residents and making sure that they have everything that they need...

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Resources

Electronic, print, and multimedia resources are provided to help you to find additional authoritative information on What to look for as a Geriatric Specialist. These resources are available from such national organizations as The National Institute of Mental Health as well as professional organizations, not-for-profit organizations, and educational institutions.

Internet

 

American Psychological Association (APA)

 

The APA is a professional organization and the largest organization of psychologists in the world. APA is an international organization whose mission is to advance psychology as a science and profession and as a means of promoting health and human welfare through research, high standards of ethics, conduct, education and achievement, the proliferation of knowledge and education, sharing of professional findings and experiences, and publications.

 

The APA provides a comprehensive suicide and depression resource guide for geriatric specialists including articles and abstracts, books, reports, and other web sites of interest available at the following Web address:

http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/depression.html

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What to look for
>Detection Resources
>>Associated Factors
>>Protective Factors
>>Facts  
>>Myths
>>How to relate
>>Common concerns
>Professional resources
>>Professional screening tools
>>Suicide risk screening tools
What to do to help
>Treatment Resources
>>What to do in an emergency  
>>Suicide hotlines
>>Facilities
>>Mental health providers
>>Legal considerations
>>Standard treatments for suicide ideation
>>What to do as a survivor of suicide
>Professional Resources
>>Clinical guidance 
>>Ethical and Legal guidelines
>>Assessment information
>>Medication information
>>What to do as a professional survivor of suicide
What education is available 
>Education Resources
>>Online educational tools  
>>Organizations
>>Courses for credit
>>Publications
>Professional Resources
>>Higher education   
>>Organizations
>>Courses for credit
>>Continuing education
>>Conferences
>>Publications
What researchers are doing
>Research Resources
>>Research news
>>Statistics
>>Clinical trials
>>Grants/RFP
>>Institutions
>Professional Resources
>>Research news

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Last Updated: July 2004