The Role of Clinical Psychologists in Psychogeriatrics

There has been a steady increase in the proportion of elderly people in the population, especially those over the age of 75, and the main reasons are increased life expectancy and a reduced birth rate. Consequently health and social services will be under continuing pressure from the problems which these people present. Estimates of the incidence of dementia, for example, range from 6 to 10%. In addition elderly people are more likely to suffer from disability resulting from physical conditions such as stroke, and psychological problems such as depression are also common, resulting from environmental changes such as physical infirmity, pain, bereavement, hospitalisation, retirement and disengagement, and relocation. Clinical Psychologists are now beginning to make a contribution to the provision of psychogeriatric services, as this article outlines.