The Mental Health and Substance Use Workforce for Older Adults: In Whose Hands?
This IOM consensus study report addresses the mental health and substance use needs of the aging population and how the nation's health care is ill-equipped to meet these needs. The report discusses workforce shortages, insufficient workforce diversity, and lack of basic knowledge and competence in key areas and describes approaches to address these problems.
Source: Institue of Medicine (IOM), 2012.
https://nap.nationalacademies.org/
Cognitive Aging: Progress in Understanding and Opportunities for Action
This consensus study report assesses cognitive aging as it relates to public health (e.g., epidemiology, surveillance, and public awareness). The report includes recommendations for individuals and how they can reduce the risks of cognitive decline with aging. It also includes recommendations for families, communities, and society to promote cognitive health and help older adults live independent lives.
Source: Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, 2015.
Older Adult Falls: A Growing Danger
This fact sheet from the STEADI initiative provides information regarding how falls threaten older adults' health, independence, and quality of life. It highlights various statistics regarding falls in older adults over the past few years.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
https://www.cdc.gov/
Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia: A Way Forward
This consensus study report from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine assesses the current state of knowledge on interventions to prevent cognitive decline and dementia, and it informs future research in this area. It also includes recommendations for public health interventions.
Source: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2017.
https://www.nationalacademies.org/home
Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System
This consensus study report from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine discusses the health effects of social isolation and loneliness on the older adult population. It also includes recommendations for how health professionals can identify those suffering from social isolation, and it offers ways evidence-based interventions can be translated into practice.
Source: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2020
https://www.nationalacademies.org/home
Mental health of older adults
This fact sheet explains the prevelance of mental health problems in older adults and how these problems are under-identified within this population. Risk factors for mental health problems are discussed, along with the specific conditions of dementia and depression. Treatment strategies are described.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO), 2017.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets
Falls
This fact sheet describes the incidence of falls, the scope of the problem, who is at risk for falls, and how to prevent falls.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO), 2021.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets
How to adapt person-centered health services to ageing population?
WHO believes that every older person should have access to high quality, person-centered services. This brief video explains WHO's guidelines for Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE), which focuses on building their physical and mental capacities.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO), 2018.
https://www.who.int/multi-media/details/how-to-adapt-person-centered-health-services-to-ageing-populations#
Age-friendly World
This website aims to engage the global community to create an age-friendly world through city and community planning. Viewers of the site can access newsletters, discover age-friendly practices, submit age-friendly practices, and explore the global network. Cities and communities can apply to join the global network.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO), 2020.
Risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia
These WHO guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for delaying and/or preventing cognitive decline and dementia through lifestyle behaviors and interventions. The guidelines may be useful for health care providers, policy-makers, and other stakeholders.