TheĀ Justitia FoundationĀ Blog
Mental health care for older adults is one of the most complex and underserved areas of clinical
practice. As the older adult population grows ā€” with projections showing that Americans 65
and older will outnumber children for the first time by 2034 ā€” the demand for informed,
ethical, and compassionate geriatric mental health care has never been greater. Yet too many
older adults remain unsupported in today's behavioral health landscape.
The ethical terrain is uniquely challenging
Older adult care presents clinicians with ethical dilemmas that do not arise as frequently with
other populations. Cognitive impairments such as dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
can complicate the process of obtaining informed consent, requiring careful evalua...