As the proportion and sheer number of older adults in the United States continues to increase, we need to plan for their behavioral health care. Access to accurate data about current workforce characteristics in psychology can provide essential information to inform workforce planning. In this paper, we present results of the American Psychological Association's Center for Workforce Studies survey of psychologists, with a focus on older adults. Participants (N = 4,109) were doctoral psychologists identified through state licensing boards. Only 1.2% of those surveyed described geropsychology as their specialty area, although 37.2% reported seeing older adults frequently or very frequently, most often from the specialties of rehabilitation psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and clinical health psychology. Frequent providers of aging services were more likely to be older, nonethnic minority, working in independent practice as their primary work setting, and self-employed as compared to other respondents. In addition, frequent providers of services to older adults were more likely to be in practices colocated with medical professionals and to accept Medicare as payment. Low reimbursement rates were cited as a reason for not accepting Medicare by those who did not. There was strong interest in further education in aging from all psychologists in areas including adjustment to medical illness/disability, depression, bereavement, dementia, anxiety, psychotherapy, and caregiver stress. The results of this survey suggest a continued urgent need to train psychologists across subfields in foundational

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In concert with 6 decennial White House Conferences on Aging, psychologists have considered how developments in psychological science can contribute to the well-being of older Americans. We suggest 5 illustrative areas of psychological research: Advances in neuroscience elucidate ways to promote healthy cognitive aging; associated developments in neuropsychological assessment can help in protecting older Americans with cognitive losses from financial exploitation, abuse, and neglect. Psychological research on decision making and behavioral economics has much to offer to planning for retirement security and reducing vulnerability to financial abuse. Psychological research on self-management and behavior change can contribute importantly to enhancing good health behaviors among older adults; similarly the power of context on behavior can be harnessed in long-term care settings. Psychological research on attitudes and stereotypes gives insight into age bias that can be detrimental to healthy aging. Adaptive technologies and information technologies are beginning to transform assessment in research and clinical settings; technology also holds the promise of improving long-term support for older adults in both institutional and community-based settings. Finally, with 1 in 7 Americans now ages 65 and older, compared with 1 in 11 50 years ago, the psychology workforce-including health services providers and faculty to train those providers-is insufficient to meet the challenge of the aging population. (PsycINFO Database Record

Past and present efforts of the American Psychological Association related to aging issues are described. Initiatives to integrate aging information into the psychology curriculum at all levels of education and training and to advocate for federal policies and funding that recognize the role of geropsychology and expand training opportunities for practitioners and researchers are discussed. These include the Committee on Aging's Preparing Psychology for an Aging World Initiative; the Education Policy Office and the Office on Aging's Graduate Training in Geropsychology Initiative; and the program offerings of the Office of Continuing Professional Education. The critical need to educate policymakers regarding the role of geropsychologists and psychological researchers in identifying and addressing the mental and behavioral health needs of older adults and their families is discussed. DEBORAH A. DIGILIO received her MPH in 1982 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is currently the aging issues officer for the American Psychological Association, where she manages the APA Office on Aging and is the staff liaison to the APA Committee on Aging. NINA G. LEVITT received her EdD in 1983 from George Washington University. She is the director of education policy for the American Psychological Association. She advocates for federal funding for psychology education and training. She and Deborah DiGilio are collaborating on the Graduate Training in Geropsychology Initiative to gain federal funding for geropsychology.

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