1. PLTC advocates only appropriate, necessary, and ethical use of mental health services in long term care.
To facilitate such service use, PLTC members have written a description of standards for services; see Lichtenberg, Smith, Frazer, Molinari, Rosowsky, Crose, Stillwell, Kramer, Hartman-Stein, Qualls, Salamon, Duffy, Parr, Gallagher-Thompson (1998). Standards for psychological services in long-term care facilities. The Gerontologist, 38, 122-127. (Also see Standards on this website)
2. PLTC is interested in expanding access to education about mental health conditions and treatments in long term care.
To encourage such educational access, PLTC members have developed a Training Manual, entitled Professional Educational Program Manual, that describes mental health needs and interventions in long term care. PLTC also sponsors a booth at GSA. Members and interested professionals are encouraged to stop by this booth and learn more about PLTC and its current initatives.
3. PLTC is active in advocating public policy that affects mental health and aging.
To advocate for public policy, David Powers, the PLTC representative to the National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging, and Deborah DiGilio, the aging issues officer in APA's Office on Aging, along with representatives of other groups interested in aging issues (Div. 20, Div. 12/II) met with the National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging in late 2004. During this meeting, the National Coalition agreed upon three resolutions that will be put forward to the White House Conference in Aging (WHCOA), which is scheduled for October 23-26, 2005. PLTC will be formally endorsing these resolutions, which are available for viewing here (clicking this link will open it in a new window).