Foundations of Geriatric Mental Health

Geriatric mental health addresses the unique psychological needs of older adults. Sound practice rests on understanding how aging, cognitive change, and medical comorbidity interact with mental health conditions. This foundational course provides that base. By the end of this course you will be able to describe the psychological dimensions of aging, recognize common mental health presentations in older adults, distinguish primary psychiatric conditions from medication and medical mimics, and understand the role of cognitive change in mental health assessment. What you will learn: - The psychological tasks of late life and common adaptations across the aging arc - Late-life depression including atypical presentations and risk factors - Anxiety disorders in older adults and their interaction with medical conditions - The relationship between cognitive change and mental health presentations - Delirium recognition and its differentiation from depression and dementia - The role of medication, polypharmacy, and medical comorbidity in mental health presentations - Ethical considerations including capacity, autonomy, and family involvement The course uses readings, comparison tables, case examples, and reflection questions. Each module ends with applied exercises. This course is written for mental health clinicians, primary care clinicians, nurses, social workers, and other care team members working with older adults. It does not replace supervised clinical training or licensure requirements. By the end you will have a structured understanding of geriatric mental health and the considerations that distinguish it from general adult practice.