IPA Bulletin
Editor's Note 

Psychogeriatrics in Variable Stages of Development Around The World

David G. Folks

The lifeblood of any organization including IPA is its membership, especially those individuals who choose to actively participate or contribute. Additionally, the success, or failure, of any given initiative depends upon other individuals — namely for IPA, our Executive Director, Fern Finkel, and her staff, Jodi and Margaret, who facilitate the work of our organization.

IPA has been indeed fortunate to have George Grossberg as President this past two years. George’s vision, intellect, and energy has stimulated enormous gains which are modestly outlined in this issue of the Bulletin by George himself. Along with the Board of Directors, George has accomplished a good many of the objectives set at the beginning of his tenure as President, and, George has followed through on his promise to continue IPA’s mission of Better Mental Health for Older People through educational programs, mentorship, and countless efforts to shape public policy around the globe. I have known George throughout my professional career and continue to be dazzled by the ease with which he confronts challenges and the depth of his knowledge. IPA has clearly benefited from his personable style of leadership and his ability to inspire others to greatness. In short, George has made a “world of difference” and deserves a hearty congratulations for a job superbly done.

I am still in a state of shock and denial that our longstanding Executive Director, Fern Finkel, is soon to retire. Fern has been a household name in geriatric circles for as long as I can remember, and I must simply echo President Grossberg’s words calling for a tremendous debt of gratitude for the tireless efforts with which Fern Finkel has served IPA for over two decades. Fern’s guiding hands and personal élan has indeed been outstanding in all respects. While I will not be present in Stockholm for her tribute, I am no less grateful for her many achievements through the years. She will be missed to be sure and deserves an immense degree of accolade for her cumulative accomplishments.

I am particularly grateful for her support during a particularly tough time in my own recent past, and I am very delighted to also be one of the first to wish her, Sandy and their family all the best as they enter a new phase of life and close the chapter on a glorious era in IPA history. Clearly, Fern’s contributions to IPA have made a “world of difference.”

I am sure that our incoming President, Joel Sadavoy, and our new Executive Director, Susan Oster, will enjoy a smooth transition in their new positions with IPA. They need and deserve our support. George and Fern will be there to facilitate their transition. Both Joel and Susan will be benefactors of the legacy that each of their respective counterparts, George and Fern, has bequeathed to them.

I am looking forward to the continued success and growth of IPA during a time when our global aging population will continue to prompt the need for Better Mental Health for Older People. IPA’s mission has never been more relevant than now in 2005 when we stand at the crossroads of a new era for IPA. I challenge the IPA Board of Directors and the IPA membership to support our new leaders and to consider how best to contribute to IPA’s future endeavors. You too can make a “world of difference” as we continue to improve the prospect for better mental health for older people.

This issue of IPA Bulletin is truly phenomenal. That is to say that our nursing colleagues have been called to action. I am well aware of the terrific potential that our IPA nursing component represents to our organization. Thus, I am ever hopeful that more frequently I will have the opportunity to publish noteworthy achievements and news items in the IPA Bulletin concerning psychogeriatric nursing. My spouse Diane spent many long years working the night shift in a long term care facility before obtaining her advanced nursing degree and moving into psychogeriatric research as a study coordinator in the areas of pain and dementia syndromes. She was the first to be involved with the patient controlled analgesia (PCA) pump which is now in widespread use. A simple concept, the PCA pump has a made a “world of difference” for many of our patients undergoing extensive surgery. Indeed there are countless examples of personal journeys by our nursing constituents as outlined by Gabrielle Golea on page 6 of this issue of the IPA Bulletin. Other articles along with that submitted by Gabrielle in this issue of IPA Bulletin are indeed representative of the differences being made by our members and their colleagues and staff all around the world in Eastern Europe, Dominican Republic, Romania, Poland and Canada — literally, “a world of difference.”

In closing, I would highlight two relatively pedestrian experiences that I have had this week performing consultations for my medical/surgical colleagues. Ultimately, these cases led to the theme of this editorial — “a world of difference.” One case involved a 77 year-old woman with longstanding schizophrenia who presented with milkalkali syndrome together with acute renal failure and hypercalcemia and severe behavioral disturbance requiring physical restraint. Another case involved a 67 year-old woman with longstanding bipolar disorder, presenting with acute hepatic encephalopathy and alcohol dependence also with disruptive behaviors requiring physical restraint. After implementing some basic interventions to address both their acute and chronic psychiatric disorder, both cases were immensely improved within 24 hours, neither patient requiring further physical restraint. I was struck by the unsolicited comment from each of my two colleagues primarily caring for these patients that I had “made a world of difference.” The two medical students assigned to me, who have just begun their clinical years, were also “surprised” by the favorable outcomes for each of these two patients and noted that both of my colleagues had independently commented with their gratitude. “All in a day's work,” I said to the students. I suggested to both that they should read a couple of articles published by IPA members, and encouraged their ongoing education with geriatric cases. Cheers!

Reprinted from IPA Bulletin, Volume 22, Number 3