The Report of the Presidential Task Force on Integrated Health Care for an Aging Population convened by APA Past-President Sharon Brehm was adopted by the Council of Representatives this past weekend. The report, Blueprint for Change: Integrated Health Care for an Aging Population and additional materials can be found at: http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/blueprint.html. Task Force members were: Toni Antonucci, PhD (co-chair); Antonette Zeiss, PhD (co-chair); Gregory Hinrichsen PhD; Deborah King, PhD; Peter Lichtenberg, PhD, ABPP; Martita Lopez, PhD; and Jennifer Manly, PhD. The report will be widely disseminated to APA members, health and aging organizations nationwide, government organizations that have expressed an interest in this model of care (SAMHSA, CMS, HRSA), and to policy makers. Their will also be presentations at the APA and GSA Conventions on this topic.
The Committee on Aging and Office on Aging will continue the work of the Task Force and has secured funds from the Board of Directors to prepare three fact sheets this year targeting: 1) policymakers to make clear psychologists’ involvement in and contributions to this model of care, 2) graduate faculty and training directors to provide guidance to on how to shape and develop careers that would emphasize care for older adults in integrated settings, and 3) older adults and their families to provide information and skills to improve coordination of their care. If anyone is interested in helping to develop these fact sheets, or in spreading the word about this initiative, please let me know.
Deborah DiGilio, MPH
Director, Office on Aging
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
(202) 336-6135
(202) 336-6040 FAX
DDiGilio@apa.org
http://www.apa.org/pi/aging
