Mental Health in Older Adults

Overview

Faced with managing the mental health needs of a growing aging population, it's critical that health professionals stay current in the key domains affecting mental wellness in older adults. Improving clinician awareness, diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions among older adults, particularly in light of the complex social, medical and cognitive challenges that many patients experience, will ensure the best possible outcomes and prolong functional healthspan. 

This course will review recent research findings on effective treatments and new innovations in the care of older adults with mental health disorders and major neurocognitive disorders. We'll also explore brain health and cognitive aging, retirement and extended workforce participation, driving safety, alcohol use, and suicide. Attendees will improve their confidence and ability to treat mental health conditions in older patients as well as provide patients with a framework for successful aging.

Learning Objectives

• Review how memory changes with various mental health and neurodegenerative disorders, and list strategies for maintaining memory skills as we age.
• Differentiate between characteristics of cognitive decline vs. normal aging.
• Summarize techniques to evaluate risk and decision-making capacity.
• Describe several psychosocial domains that are impacted by alcohol use disorder in older adults.
• Discuss several challenges and opportunities of staying engaged in the workforce longer into elder years, and strategies to reconceptualize the retirement phase of life.
• Review the effectiveness of two brain stimulation therapies to relieve symptoms of affective disorders.
• Describe the epidemiology of older adult suicide, and tools for screening and prevention.
• Assess age-related declines in physical and mental functioning that may affect the driving abilities of older adults.

ABMS/ACGME Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) / Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:

• Patient Care and Procedural Skills
• Medical Knowledge
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills

IOM Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following Institute of Medicine Core Competencies:

• Provide Patient-Centered Care
• Employ Evidence-Based Practice

Questions?

Please contact the Continuing Education Programs with any questions by email at ceprograms@hms.harvard.edu or phone at 617-384-8600.

Faculty

Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you’ll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.

Andrew Budson, MD

Chief of Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology, Associate Chief of Staff for Education, and Director of the Center for Translational Cognitive Neuroscience, Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System Associate Director for Research, Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Professor of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine
Lecturer in Neurology at Harvard Medical School

Nancy Costikyan, LICSW

Retired Director of the Office of Work/Life, Harvard University

Thomas Gutheil, MD

Professor of Psychiatry and Co-Founder, Program in Psychiatry and the Law, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School
Author, Speaker and Consultant 

Michael Henry, MD

Medical Director, Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation, and Director, Somatic Therapy Service, Massachusetts General Hospital
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Margaret Lanca, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Staff Psychologist, Allied Health Professional Staff, Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance Director of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Wellness and Director of Population Behavioral Health Innovation, Cambridge Health Alliance

Dorian Mintzer, MSW, PhD

Licensed Psychologist, Retirement Coach, Consultant, and Speaker

David Van Norstrand, MD, PhD

Staff Psychiatrist and Director of Consult Psychiatry, Beth Israel Lahey Health
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, UMass Chan-Lahey, UMass Chan Medical School

Gina Pervall, MD

Chief, Medical Advisory Board, Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration

Jane Tillman, PhD, ABPP

Evelyn Stefansson Nef Director, Erikson Institute for Education, Research, and Advocacy, Austen Riggs Center

Course Directors

Stephen Pinals, MD

Chief, Geriatric Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance
Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Rachel Kester, DO

Geriatric Psychiatrist, Inpatient Geriatric Psychiatry, Everett Hospital
Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship Director, Cambridge Health Alliance
Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Karen Kuc, MPH

Director, Continuing Education in Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance​​​
Associate in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

In support of improving patient care, Harvard Medical School is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians

The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses

For the purpose of recertification, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and American Nurses Credentialing Center accept  7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education). We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure. 

Physician Assistants

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that  7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure. 

Psychologists

Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 7.00 continuing education credits.

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, marriage/family therapists and counselors, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present and sign in on both days to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org. 

Social Workers

Application for social work continuing education credits has been submitted. Please contact us at cme@challiance.org for the status of social work CE accreditation.

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, marriage/family therapists and counselors, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present and sign in on both days to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org.

Counselors

Cambridge Health Alliance is an Affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5444.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course meets the requirements for 7.00 continuing education hours, and is also applicable for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Counseling/Allied Mental Health accreditation for 7.00 credits.

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, marriage/family therapists and counselors, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present and sign in on both days to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org.

Family Therapists

Application for family therapist continuing education credits has been submitted. Please contact us at cme@challiance.org for the status of LMFT CE accreditation.

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, marriage/family therapists and counselors, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present and sign in on both days to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org.

Canadian Accreditation

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.

European Accreditation

The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the European Union of Medical Specialties website.

Disclosure Policy

In accord with the disclosure policy of the Medical School as well as standards set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), course planners, speakers, and content reviewers have been asked to disclose any relationships they have to companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. In addition, faculty have been asked to list any off-label uses of pharmaceuticals and/or devices for investigational or non-FDA approved purposes that they plan to discuss.

Disclaimer

CME activities accredited by Harvard Medical School are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of certification of competency. Practitioners should always consult additional sources of information and exercise their best professional judgment before making clinical decisions of any kind.

Note: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is calculated based on submission of a preliminary agenda and may be subject to change.

Tuition for Mental Health in Older Adults is listed below. You may register through our secure online environment and will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment. Prices include CME credit, electronic syllabus. At the end of the registration process, a $10 non-refundable processing fee will be added to your registration. 

Prices include CME credit, electronic syllabus, refreshments, continental breakfast, and access to course materials for 30 days after the course.

Please review the cancellation policy.

Course Tuition

Physician (MD/DO)

$290 / ($260 if registered by November 6, 2025)

All Other Health Professionals

$230 / ($200 if registered by November 6, 2025)

Tuition includes electronic syllabus.