Overview: It has been estimated that there are at least 2,500,000 adults, 10% of the population above age 65, who are currently in need of some sort of mental health services (Kramer, Taube, and Redick, 1973). Other estimates are even higher (e. g. , Pfeiffer, 1977). It is expected that this number will increase as the number of older adults increases over the next 40 years. Probably less than 400 clinical psychologists are now provid- ing services to this age group. The number of elderly patients actually seen by these psychologists is very, very small. One national survey found that of 353 p
|