Promoting Geropsychology: A Memorandum for Research, Policies, Education Programs, and Practices for Healthy Aging

Andrea Bosco, Anna Consiglio, Manuela Nicoletta Di Masi and Antonella Lopez ()
Additional contact information
Andrea Bosco: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70122 Bari, Italy
Anna Consiglio: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70122 Bari, Italy
Manuela Nicoletta Di Masi: IBiSS Società Cooperativa Sociale, 70018 Rutigliano, Italy
Antonella Lopez: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70122 Bari, Italy

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 9, 1-25

Abstract: Background: This viewpoint paper reports the state of the art at a global level on research, practice and assessment, policies, and training in the clinical psychology of aging and, more specifically, in geropsychology. The main sources of information were as follows: (1) the most recent reviews of the literature available in the scientific literature; (2) the resources on the internet referable to professional and academic associations dealing with the topic; and (3) the laws, policy initiatives, and funded programs that are aimed at the diffusion and applications of mental health in aging. Methods: The present study aims to provide an updated and comprehensive memorandum highlighting the importance of prioritizing mental health in older adults. It seeks to promote health in general and disease prevention strategies, ensuring equitable access to mental health services integrated into primary care and designed for aging. This paper also aims to shed light on the slow development process and lack of consolidation in the adaptation of academic training at master’s and doctoral levels in most developed countries, despite the long-declared importance of enhancing resources for the promotion of geropsychology. Results: The results of the present study are patchy. Although the importance of enhancing resources for the promotion of geropsychology has long been declared, the development process seems very slow, and the adaptation of academic training at master’s and doctoral levels in most developed countries—those that, for demographic reasons and attitudes, should be more sensitive to the issue, does not yet seem to have consolidated. Conclusions: Collaboration among diverse professionals is crucial for providing integrated and comprehensive care to older adults that addresses their physical, psychological, and social needs.

Keywords: geropsychology; policy; assessment; training programs; clinical psychology; active aging; cognitive reserve; successful aging (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/9/1172/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/9/1172/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:9:p:1172-:d:1470368

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().