To describe the development, future challenges, and directions of geriatric psychiatry in Canada.
Method:
This review and description of geriatric psychiatry was developed in the context of the criteria established by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada for subspecialization applications. Information from key informants, both nationally and internationally, was combined with a review of relevant literature in the field.
Results and Conclusions:
Canada has provided important contributions to the field of geriatric psychiatry in Canada and abroad. The increased needs of older persons with severe mental illness and their families, combined with a significant body of knowledge and therapeutic options, provide an important foundation for further development. Subspecialization in geriatric psychiatry as part of the overall development of psychiatry in Canada is proposed as critical to meeting the challenges of our aging population.
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