Advancing Mental Health Care for the Ageing Population

"We have reached the mid-point of the United Nation’s Decade of Healthy Aging. As of 2019, the global population of adults over the age of 65 years exceeded that of children below the age of 5 years. Within the next five years, 20-25% of the North American population, and one in six people worldwide, is expected to be 65 or older. At the same time, since 2000, the burden of illness related to chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease, has more than doubled. This unprecedented growth in the older adult population, in the context of an increased burden of chronic illness and healthcare costs, necessitates an increased focus on strategies to enhance psychological well-being and optimize quality of life with ageing. Limited access to specialized mental health care practitioners, especially within the public healthcare system, challenges us to develop innovative and accessible Geropsychology services for older adults who often present with complex needs." -- The Canadian Psychological Association

There is a global urgency to address the medical needs of older adult populations. The upcoming issue of the CPA's Psynopsis magazine dedicated to this topic is a must read. https://cpa.ca/psynopsis/

Services at The Barrie Memory Clinic are tailored to the psychological and neurocognitive needs of older adults; we are striving to increase accessibility of services to the growing needs of this population. Contact us if you would like more information or to join us in spreading the word on the important need for psychological services for our older adult communities.