OAP Actual Problems in European Countries

Abstract

Aging of the world population risks to be accompanied by an increase of chronic health problems, and most particularly of mental health problems. To face to these problems the organization of care and education in old age psychiatry is still quite insufficient worldwide. Like in all countries in this part of the world, the geriatric psychiatry is still not enough represented. Only in some countries in Europe old age psychiatry is a recognized specialty (18% of European region countries responded at a WPA survey of teaching and training in OAP). The number of professionals working in the field is still very low to satisfy the needs of care of elderly with mental disorders. There is inadequate training for formal caregivers and lack of support for informal ones. This is the reason to support the development of postgraduate education on old age psychiatry as a priority in Europe. We discuss about teaching and training in old age psychiatry, psychiatric and psychological expertise exams and the assessment of competence in dementia and ethical aspect of care and research in elderly demented people.

We also present some aspects of elderly sexuality and abuse and about mental health from strategy to reality and dementia care in different Europe countries.

Chairs: Horacio Firmino-Portugal, Nicoleta Tataru-Romania.

Speakers:

1. 1. Alexandra Milicevic-Kalasic, Serbia: ‘Mental Health in Serbia-from Strategy to Reality’.

2. 2. Horacio Firmino, Portugal: ‘Education on Old Age Psychiatry at Europe: facts and proposals’.

3. 3. Ilkin Icelly, Turkey: ‘Elderly abuse in Turkey’.

4. 4. Jerzy Leszek, Poland: ‘Dementia care in Poland’.