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Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Counseling Professions

Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Psychology

PSRT4040 - Aging and Psychiatric Rehabilitation

Course Description

This course will examine the issues facing older adults living with mental illness. An overview of the experience of persons over 65 who live with psychiatric disabilities will be provided. Topics will include: recovery and wellness, evidence based practices for the treatment of mental illness in older adults, goal setting, co-morbidity of physical and mental illness, and stigma.

Credits/Modes of Instruction

Credits: 3

Online course, 45 hours

Prerequisites

Completion of PSRT1101, PSRT1102, PSRT, 1103, PSRT 1204.

Course Goals and Outcomes:

Goals

The goal of the course is to prepare students to work directly with older adults living with psychiatric disabilities, to support success aging for older people with mental illness, and to advocate for appropriate mental and physical health care for this population.

Outcomes

1. Apply the values, principles and goals of psychiatric rehabilitation to older adults.
2. Apply the concepts of Wellness and Recovery to older adults with psychiatric disabilities
3. Demonstrate understanding of cultural differences in the experience of aging
4. Discuss co-morbidity of mental and physical illness in older adults with psychiatric disabilities, and risk factors that contribute to co-morbidity.
5. Describe housing options available for older adults with psychiatric disabilities.
6. Identify the rates of institutionalization of older adults with psychiatric disabilities.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of stigma in the lives of older adults living with mental illness
8. Identify evidence-based mental health practices for older adults.
9. Apply goal-setting techniques for working with older adults.
10. Identify effective communication techniques for working with older adults.