As of 2004, 36.3 million Americans were age 65 or older, representing 12.4% of the population. It is estimated that by the year 2030, there will be over 70 million Americans 65 or older, representing 20% of the population. Such an increase will surely lead to a compensurate increase in the number of older adults treated by mental health professionals. Because older adults often experience decline in the ability to make decisions and care for themselves, particularly in cases such as Alzheimer's disease, mental health care providers will be faced with unique ethical dilemmas. Bush's book provides an original decision-making model that practitioners can use when confronted with these types of ethical challenges. The casebook format will engage readers with interesting vignettes and illustrate ethical decision making with realistic cases. It will be the most up-to-date book of its kind and serve as a vital resource for health care providers in numerous fields.
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