Predictors of working with older adults in an Australian psychologist sample: revisiting the influence of contact

Despite increasing numbers of older people in most global populations and increasing evidence of the efficacy of psychological therapy in older clinical populations, few psychologists work with older clients as compared with other clinical groups. In the present research, the authors examine potential influences on psychologists choosing to specialize in working in the field of aging. The authors surveyed 1,498 psychologists Australia-wide to examine which factors exerted the most influence on choosing to specialize in clinical work with older clients. Clinical exposure to older clients and age-related course content within training programs, together with further education external to formal training, were significantly correlated with specializing in aged care. Holding a more negative attitude toward one's own aging was another predictor of specialist category membership, with interest in working with older clients also being a significant factor based on direct logistic regression analysis. In contrast to previous work, amount or quality of contact with older persons did not appear to relate to working with older adults. These findings highlight the importance of quality training experiences in influencing attitudes toward working with older adults

Student placements in residential care: how do we provide a positive experience?

Very few Australian residential care facilities have access to psychological services. Clearly, very few Australian psychologists provide services to residential care facilities. Various factors underlie this situation. The tensions in the dual funding of health care between Commonwealth and the States and chronic under funding of aged care services are major issues, but factors within the profession are also relevant. The limited exposure to older adults and issues that are common in clinical training programs is one factor. The limited number of placements available for students to gain practical experience with older adults is also something of concern if more psychologists are to have positive experiences in working with older adults. This forum will explore strategies for increasing placement opportunities for students to work in residential care facilities and increasing incentives for psychological services in residential care. Another issue for discussion will be methods for increasing the number of supervisors for such work and for ensuring positive outcomes

The current status of clinical geropsychology in Australia: a survey of practising psychologists

Little recent objective evidence exists to qualify past concerns regarding the low numbers of psychologists working with older adults in Australia. The present study reports on figures from two surveys of Australian psychologists, finding that of the 1,699 psychologists surveyed, only 6% specialise in treating older adults. This figure is comparable to those from studies conducted overseas, where more training and employment opportunities are available. Reasons for such low figures are explored together with recommendations to meet the future demand for psychological services as the proportion of elderly adults within the Australian population increases

Clinical psychologists in aged care in Australia: a question of attitude or training?

Despite increasing numbers of older people in the Australian population, few psychologists work with this segment of the population. The prevalence of psychological disorders in this age group is substantial and there is increasing evidence for the effectiveness of psychological treatments for these conditions in older adults. This study explored the reasons for the limited number of psychologists who work with this growing population. A survey of more than 500 Australian psychologists based in Sydney, Australia, used the Reactions to Ageing Questionnaire to assess attitudes, and other questions enquired about training, current practice, and interest in work with older adults. The response rate was 39%, with 17% of the respondents being specialists in work with older adults. Stereotyped attitudes did not differentiate specialists from generalists, but interest in therapy with older adults did, along with age, years of practice and working in an aged care setting. While the limited survey restricts the generalisability of the results, they do suggest that training in itself is not sufficient to overcome a reluctance to work with older adults. Supervised practice settings appear to be effective, but greater efforts are needed to increase both academic training and work settings for work with older adults in Australia

Predictors of interest in working with older adults: a survey of postgraduate trainee psychologists

Despite the growing number of older adults that implies an increasing need for psychological services, few psychologists choose to specialize in working with older clients. The present cross-sectional research examined predictors of student interest in working with older clients in an effort to understand factors that may influence future psychologists to work in this area. The targeted sample consisted of Australian postgraduate psychology students whose course coordinators responded to a request to participate in this national survey. Four hundred and thirty-one postgraduate trainee psychology students completed the survey that examined training, contact, and attitudinal variables. This represents a 45.3% response rate from surveys being distributed by course coordinators. Having undergone or intending to do a placement within an aged care setting was the most powerful predictor of interest, with confidence in working with the elderly, and positively anticipating old age being attitudinal factors related to increased interest. Amount or quality of contact with older adults and formal education through aging-related coursework failed to predict interest, based on hierarchical regression analysis. Implications for future training of psychologists highlight the importance of quality clinical experiences with older clients during training as opposed to pure coursework