Psychotherapy in Long-Term Care: I. Practical Considerations and the Link to Policy and Advocacy

This article is the 1st of 2 examining 3 domains that are important to providing high-quality, evidence-based services to long-term care (LTC) residents: policy and advocacy, practical considerations, and outcome research. Older adults who reside in LTC facilities have a very high rate of mental health difficulties. Psychologists have been able to provide services to this population through Medicare since the late 1980s, resulting in an increase in psychologists who are working with LTC residents, either as part of their practice or on a full-time basis. The focus of this article is on practical considerations for therapists in LTC settings from both the published literature and personal observations (including an illustrative case example), the current policy environment, and the importance of advocacy on behalf of clients.