The
International Psychogeriatric Association
(IPA) has been a vibrant international
organization for 28 years, since its
founding in 1982. Our mission is to promote
service, education and research for the
better mental health of older people
throughout the world. What makes IPA unique
among societies is how multifaceted and
diverse we are. Our membership is and has
been multidisciplinary, which includes
medical doctors (psychiatrists,
geriatricians, neurologists, primary care,
etc.), nurses, psychologists, social
workers, occupational therapists, who are
care providers, educators, administrators,
researchers and more, in different areas of
sciences. This comprehensive approach to
membership illustrates the very essence of
geriatric mental health care --- it is a
team composed of all who can contribute to
improving care. Another aspect of IPA which
shows our commitment to the multi-sided
geriatric mental health is our diversity in
research methodology including biological,
psychological, social, and even spiritual
aspects of the people in need. It is indeed
reassuring and rewarding that IPA
acknowledges the complexity and diversity of
this challenging field.
The number of the elderly people in the
world is rapidly growing. Out of 6.5 billion
of the global population 477 million are the
elderly (7.3%). In developed countries such
as Europe, North America, Japan, Australia
and New Zealand, there are approximately 185
million elderly. In developing countries
including Africa, Asia (excluding Japan),
Central and South America, Malaysia,
Micronesia, and Polynesia, there are another
185 million elderly. By 2050, it is expected
there will be 326 million elderly in
developed countries and 1.166 billion
elderly in developing countries, implying
3.6 times elderly people will live in
developing areas in 2050. This is one of the
reasons why IPA is focusing some of our
activity in Asia.
IPA is working to change and transform
itself. As reported in a previous Bulletin,
this will include a new business model less
dependent on pharmaceutical company support.
As part of this effort, we are working to
build our infrastructure and have the
organizational tools to lead the field. For
example, IPA is in the last stages of
implementing a much-needed membership
database (our current one is 10 years old
and no longer supported technically). This
new database will enable members to access
and update their member information online
through the IPA website – members area.
Further, IPA will be able to gather more
input from you, our members, so we can
better understand your interests, concerns
and needs. In turn, this information will
help IPA leaders better anticipate the
current and future direction of the field
and our members’ perspective. We can then
translate this into even better meetings,
and other programs and services. Look for
more information on this in the next few
months.
Finally, please note we have one
international meeting this year and so make
sure you schedule time (26-29 September
2010) so you can join us in Santiago de
Compostela, Spain. Raimundo Mateos and
Manuel Franco, conference chairs, along with
Knut Engedal, scientific committee chair,
along with their committees have been
planning a unique and wonderful program.
Once again, IPA will be working with one of
our affiliate organizations as we
collaborate with the Sociedad Española de
Psicogeriatria to present this outstanding
conference. Our affiliate in Portugal,
Associação Portuguesa de Gerontopsiquiatria,
has also been involved and, in fact will
hold their annual conference in conjunction
with this meeting. Not only is the IPA
meeting going to be of outstanding
scientific quality but we have planned for
two superb pre-meeting events: Long-Term
Care Symposium and Neuroimaging in Dementia
Workshop.
IPA continues to strive for the best ideas
and education by collaborating in a
worldwide forum. Thank you to those who have
contributed so that we may collectively
improve the care of our patients around the
globe.
Reprinted from IPA Bulletin, Volume 27, Number 1
Copyright 2010 International Psychogeriatric Association
The
International Psychogeriatric Association
(IPA) has been a vibrant international
organization for 28 years, since its
founding in 1982. Our mission is to promote
service, education and research for the
better mental health of older people
throughout the world. What makes IPA unique
among societies is how multifaceted and
diverse we are. Our membership is and has
been multidisciplinary, which includes
medical doctors (psychiatrists,
geriatricians, neurologists, primary care,
etc.), nurses, psychologists, social
workers, occupational therapists, who are
care providers, educators, administrators,
researchers and more, in different areas of
sciences. This comprehensive approach to
membership illustrates the very essence of
geriatric mental health care --- it is a
team composed of all who can contribute to
improving care. Another aspect of IPA which
shows our commitment to the multi-sided
geriatric mental health is our diversity in
research methodology including biological,
psychological, social, and even spiritual
aspects of the people in need. It is indeed
reassuring and rewarding that IPA
acknowledges the complexity and diversity of
this challenging field.