• the needs of older adults with a psychiatric illness are qualitatively different from those of mentally well older adults, and

• the needs of older adults with a psychiatric illness are qualitatively different from those of the younger population with a psychiatric illness.

Services Must Be Goal-Oriented

BCPGA believes that services to this population should:

• reduce distress to the person and the family,

• improve and/or maintain the client’s function,

• mobilize the individual’s capacity for autonomous living, and

• maximize and maintain their independence at the highest possible level.

Services Must Be Accessible and Flexible

BCPGA recommends that services to this population be:

• readily available in all regions,

• responsive, that is, based on listening to and understanding problems,

• prompt, appropriate, and relevant to clients and their families,

• designed to overcome geographical, cultural, financial, political and linguistic obstacles to obtaining care,

• integrated with other services, both horizontally and vertically, to ensure co-ordination and continuity of care, and

• individualized to meet the needs of each person in his/her family, home and community context.

Services Must Be Comprehensive

BCPGA  believes that programs for psychogeriatric clients should:

• be based on collaboration among agencies and organizations

• take into account all aspects of the person’s physical, psychological, social, financial and spiritual needs, and

• use a variety of professionals, community resources and support personnel to ensure comprehensive support.

Services Must be Client-Centred

BCPGA believes that a fundamental tenet of best practice in psychogeriatric care is to take a client-centred approach, which respects and maintains the dignity of older adults.  Services should:

• involve the person and the family in care planning and management,

• be sensitive to cultural differences, and

• be sensitive to the complex and novel issues that arise in the context of decision-making about care for older persons, especially those with significant mental health concerns

Psychogeriatric Service Providers Must Be Accountable

Psychogeriatric service providers should:  

• accept responsibility for assuring the quality of the service they deliver,

• monitor their service in partnership with the client and the family,

• respond to reasonable expectations from clients, families and others providing service,

• anticipate and respond to changing demographic trends, and

• incorporate relevant evaluation strategies into their programs to ensure optimal methods of service delivery.