What practitioners should know about working with older adults

Clinicians need to know more about working with older age groups because the number and proportion of older adults in the U.S. population are increasing and more professional psychologists will be called upon to deliver psychological services to them. Any assessment of an older adult should include the client's current mental status, cognitive ability, social supports available, the client's medical status, and, if cognitive impairment is suspected, interviews with family members and friends. Assessments may have to be modified in the testing environment to assure optimal performance. Psychological interventions proven effective with younger adults are also effective for older adults.