APA updates guidelines for older adult patients

In February, the American Psychological Association (APA) updated its guidelines for treating older adults. The new recommendations include things like understanding what is normal cognitive aging as opposed to neurodegenerative conditions; recognizing and allowing for diversity in race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status; utilizing telehealth as a way for older patients to access care; and acknowledgement that psychologists should work with other healthcare professionals like pharmacists, primary physicians, or nurse practitioners as “healthcare teams” for their patients.
The U.S. population is getting older. According to the World Health Organization, one in six people will be over the a...