Mental Health in Older Adults
- Continuing Education
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Enhance your skills in addressing the complex mental health needs of older adults through cutting-edge research, practical strategies, and innovative care approaches. This course empowers health professionals to confidently diagnose, treat, and support aging patients while promoting brain health, safety, and successful aging.
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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.
Developed and Offered By:
Continuing Education courses are developed by faculty from Harvard Medical School's teaching hospitals and accredited by Harvard Medical School. This course is offered by Cambridge Health Alliance.
Participant Types
Specialty Physicians, Primary Care Physicians, Social workers, Counselors, Psychologists, Other, Nurses, Physician Assistants.
Schedule
All agenda sessions are in Eastern Time.
Friday, December 5, 2025
Welcome and Introduction
8:15-8:25 am
Keynote: Fundamentals of Risk Management and Capacity Assessment in Older Adults
8:25-9:40 am
Navigating the Longer Working Years and Reimagining Retirement
9:40-10:55 am
Break
10:55-11:15 am
How to Remember Better–The Science of Memory
11:15-11:45 am
Alcohol Use Disorder in Older Adults
11:45 am-12:15 pm
Panel Discussion / Q&A
12:15-12:45 pm
Lunch Break
12:45-1:45 pm
The Use of ECT/TMS for Affective Illness in Older Adults
1:45-2:15 pm
Neuropsychological Testing: Defining cognitive impairment vs. normal aging
2:15-2:45 pm
Panel Discussion / Q&A
2:45-3:15 pm
Break
3:15-3:35 pm
Understanding and Treating Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior in Older Adults
3:35-4:05 pm
Driving Safety
4:05-4:35 pm
Panel Discussion / Q&A
4:35-5:05 pm
Close Program
5:05-5:10 pm
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.
Course Directors
Stephen Pinals, MD
MD | Course Director
- Chief, Geriatric Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance
- Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Rachel Kester
DO | Course Director
- Geriatric Psychiatrist, Inpatient Geriatric Psychiatry, Everett Hospital
- Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship Director, Cambridge Health Alliance
- Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Karen Kuc
MPH | Course Director
- Director, Continuing Education in Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance
- Associate in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
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
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Course Fees
Fee Disclaimer
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.
| Role | Course Fee |
|---|---|
| Physician (MD/DO) | $290.00 |
| Nurse (RN/APRN) | $230.00 |
| PA | $230.00 |
| Psychologist | $230.00 |
| Resident/Fellow | $230.00 |
| Social Worker | $230.00 |
| Allied Health Professional / Other | $230.00 |
Accreditation
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This activity has been certified by NEAFAST on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions for LMFT Professional Continuing Education. Certification #213822144, for 7.00 contact hours. The States of CT and RI accept NBCC and NASW approval for marriage and family therapy. The States of CT and RI accept NBCC and NASW approval for marriage and family therapy.
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.
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.
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.
This program has been approved for a total of 7.00 Social Work Continuing Education hours for re-licensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approval Program Authorization Number D-10555. NY Social Workers: Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an Approved Provider #0038 of continuing education for licensed social workers. This course offers 7.00 contact hours.
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.