1. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY
Geriatrics and Mental Health - The Facts
http://www.aagpgpa.org/prof/facts_mh.asp
<http://www.aagpgpa.org/prof/facts_mh.asp>
This fact sheet gives statistics on mental health issues
affecting the elderly.

2. AMERICAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN
The Geriatric Patient: A Systematic Approach to Maintaining Health
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000215/1089.html
<http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000215/1089.html>
This article reviews assessment tools and techniques for health
screening of the elderly. Screening tools include the Mini-Mental
State, the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Instrumental Activities
of Daily Living Scale, and the Checklist of Assessment Areas for
Maintaining Healthy Geriatric Patients.

3. CLINICAL GERIATRICS
Failure to Adequately Detect Suicidal Intent in Elderly Patients
in the Primary Care Setting
http://www.mmhc.com/cg/articles/CG0101/blank.html
<http://www.mmhc.com/cg/articles/CG0101/blank.html>
Elderly mentally ill persons are less likely than any other age
group to receive needed psychiatric treatment even though they are
the highest risk group for committing suicide.

4. CLINICAL GERIATRICS
Choosing Appropriate Treatment for Geriatric Depression
http://www.mmhc.com/cg/articles/CG0105/lavretsky.html
<http://www.mmhc.com/cg/articles/CG0105/lavretsky.html>
Early diagnosis and treatment of late-life depression in the
elderly reduces suffering, helps in suicide prevention, restores
optimal levels of function and independence, and decreases the
societal cost of health care.

5. MERCK MANUAL OF GERIATRICS
Legal and Ethical Issues
http://www.merck.com/pubs/mm_geriatrics/sec1/ch14.htm
<http://www.merck.com/pubs/mm_geriatrics/sec1/ch14.htm>
The manual discusses assessment of decisional capacity and
competence, identification of decision makers, resolution of
conflicts about care, disclosure of information, termination of
treatment at the end of life, and decisions about long-term care.

6. EMEDICINE
Elder Abuse
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic160.htm
<http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic160.htm>
The authors identify seven categories of elder abuse and provide
questions that can be used to elicit information about abuse.

7. JOURNAL OF COUNSELING AND DEVELOPMENT
Ethical Guidelines for Counselors Working With Older Adults
http://www.counseling.org/members/journals/jcd_spring00.pdf
<http://www.counseling.org/members/journals/jcd_spring00.pdf>
This article examines the needs of older adults with cognitive
impairments or terminal illness or who are the victims of abuse
and proposes guidelines for counselors working with such clients.
(The Adobe Reader is needed. Document may be slow to load. Scroll
to the first article.)

8. ANNALS OF LONG-TERM CARE
Neglect and Self-Neglect of the Elderly in Long-Term Care
http://www.mmhc.com/nhm/articles/NHM0102/reyesortiz.html
<http://www.mmhc.com/nhm/articles/NHM0102/reyesortiz.html>
Self-neglect in the elderly is described as a heterogeneous
geriatric entity. Other names used for it are Diogenes syndrome
(DS), aged reclusion, social breakdown of the elderly, and
squalor syndrome.

Edward E. Rylander, M.D.
Diplomat American Board of Family Practice.
Diplomat American Board of Palliative Medicine.