INFO: APA and Promoting Team Care Symposium

I wanted everyone to update everyone on our (APA) involvement in follow up activities related to the up to the IOM report, which as you know, pretty much overlooked psychologists as providers of older adult healthcare. First, regarding the specific symposium that Merla Arnold sent an earlier email about, I had asked Bob Knight to attend this event on geropsychology's behalf. He did and spoke with David Reuben, the chair of the event and a member off IOM Workforce panel about the absence of psychology in the report. He also distributed CDs of our Integrated Health Care for an Aging Population report (http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/blueprint_report.pdf).

To back up a bit, when the IOM was first establishing their project work group, Norman Anderson and then president, Sharon Stephens Brehm had asked for geropsychology to be represented and for mental and behavioral health issues to be included in their deliberations. This didn’t happen (mental health did get some minimal coverage). After the report was released, Norman sent another letter to the IOM in response to the omission of psychologists and their contributions. If anyone is interested in seeing the letter or its attachment which summarizes APA efforts related to geriatric workforce issues, I can send it along.

Probably most significant, as the report is a done deal, is that APA is currently a member of the National Workforce Alliance to Care for an Aging America. The Alliance is a follow-up venture to the IOM Report. Its plan is to work to implement or refine the recommendations made by the IOM Task Force. Its mission is to assure a sufficient and competent workforce to meet the current and burgeoning demand to care for older adults. APA has been represented by myself, Diane Elmore (Senior Legislative and Federal Affairs Officer in the Public Interest Government Relations Office), and Catherine Grus, Associate Executive Director, Professional Education and Training of the Education Directorate. It takes a lot of work (and stamina) advocating on psychology’s behalf, for example, just getting folks to insert the word “psychologist” into documents and priorities that list other health professions is sometimes challenging, but we ARE at the table and continue to advocate for psychology’s inclusion. So, we’ll see…Diane Elmore has also been working with AAGP and NASW to advocate for funding for another IOM report on the geriatric mental health workforce.

I hope that if other symposia such as this one occur, we can count on your involvement. So, as Merla says, we do have a lot of work to do – but at least we have started. Debbie

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

From: Psychologists in Long Term Care on behalf of Merla Arnold Sent: Tue 10/21/2008 6:27 PM To: PLTC@listserv.wvu.edu Subject: Re: [PLTC] INFO: [Fwd: Promoting Team Care Symposium]

We have a LOT of work to do!! Merla Dr. M. Arnold, PhD, RN Licensed Psychologist - Registered Nurse Psychological Services, Behavioral Health Counseling, Consultation and Education Focused on the Needs of Older Adults Western Suffolk/Eastern Nassau Counties, LI, NY Long Term Care Settings (631) 271-9863 " Lynn Northrop wrote: > Unfortunately, they do not mention psychologists among the disciplines > represented on the team. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Psychologists in Long Term Care [mailto:PLTC@listserv.wvu.edu] On > Behalf Of Merla Arnold > Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 2:11 PM > To: PLTC@listserv.wvu.edu > Subject: INFO: [Fwd: Promoting Team Care Symposium] > > Colleagues, > FYI > Merla > >