SW 6751 - Aging Practice II - Chronic Health and Mental Health Conditions in Older Adults

Nearly half of older adults live with a chronic health condition (e.g., diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease) and a third live with three or more. Many have co-occurring mental health conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, substance use disorders) that are under-assessed and under-treated. This specialized practice course examines factors that impact these conditions in older adults and highlights relevant emerging and evidence-informed person- and family-centered care models. The student who successfully completes this course will be able to: • Identify leading chronic health conditions that impact older adults in society. • Demonstrate knowledge of basic concepts of geriatric mental health and mental illness. • Relate social work perspectives and relevant theories to evidence-informed geriatric mental health practice. • Characterize social work roles and contributions in settings serving older adults with chronic health and mental health conditions • Respect diversity and engage in ethical decision making with older adults who have chronic health and mental health conditions and their families. • Conduct comprehensive geriatric psychosocial/mental health assessments and plan and implement appropriate interventions. • Describe unique challenges and evaluate clinical strategies for working with these older adults and their caregivers. • Explain the impact of culture and socio-economic factors on older adults and their constituencies in relation to chronic conditions and disability.