In this chapter, we summarize the unique ethical demands encountered by geropsychologists. Because of the increased length of life of the population, all providers in professions dealing with older adults are being asked to serve an increasing number of people. These providers include geropsychologists and the institutions that employ them, from Veterans Health Administration facilities to community centers, emergency rooms, nursing homes, and hospice care. Making ethical decisions about care is essential to quality care.We address the ethical issues that geropsychologists face because of the changes that occur as people age, including physical and mental changes, and the refocus of life on matters that may not be of major concern to younger people. We also provide a method for ethical analysis, which allows practitioners to make consistent decisions when presented with ethical dilemmas by older patients. We discuss the unique issues that older patients face, from deciding when to give up driving because of infirmity to the ultimate challenge, facing the end of life. Finally, we propose a new ethic for older adults in our society. This chapter should aid practitioners in pursuing quality care.The older adult population in the United State is growing, with a consequent demand for services that deal with this population's unique needs. We focus on the ethical demands of mental health practice and research with older people and their families, including those issues surrounding older people's decline in ability and capacity and the ethical roles of the practitioners who deal with those older people, their families, and the institutions that provide care for them. In this chapter, we provide a method to examine the development of this growing segment of society, a vocabulary for analyzing ethical dilemmas, and problems that are distinct to this population. The aim of the chapter is to provide geropsychologists with the tools to cope with the ethical dilemmas presented by older people and their families.We describe the elements of ethics necessary for the practitioner to deal with ethical decision making when working with a geriatric population, including the vocabulary of ethics, the conflicts presented in this population, and a method for solving ethical dilemmas when they are identified and confronted. We address the current conundrums of care of older people. Finally, we propose a special geriatric ethic and suggest that geropsychologists working with clients advocate for an ethic for older patients that respects their dignity of self-direction but also affords them the protection they deserve.
NEED FOR THIS TOPICThe population of the United States is aging through developments in public health, the medical sciences, better nutrition, and healthier lifestyles. As this aging of U.S. society continues, the older adult population is exploring new roles, using more resources, and creating new demands on families and professionals (Hays, 1996). Segments within society are created in part by the demands placed on societ...