About AAGP

AAGP was founded in 1978 to foster the specialty of geriatric psychiatry and promote the delivery of quality mental health care to the aging population. A 16-member Board of Directors that is elected by the general membership governs the AAGP. In addition, nine Committees provide input to the AAGP Board of Directors on substantive issues. Task Forces are appointed by the AAGP Board to accomplish time limited projects.

AAGP's national headquarters office is located in Bethesda, Maryland – near the National Institutes of Health and not far from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The core programs of the Association include: Education and Professional Development, Late Life Mental Health Research, and Clinical Practice which are carried out through a variety of strategies including: governmental affairs and advocacy, communications, educational programming, and liaison activities. Each of these program is critical to the strategic future of the association and integral to the overall goals set forth by the AAGP Board of Directors.

AAGP publishes a monthly scientific peer reviewed journal, American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (www.AJGPonline.org), as well as a bi-monthly newsletter, Geriatric Psychiatry News. AAGP maintains a primary website (www.AAGPonline.org) and hold an Annual Meeting in March (www.AAGPmeeting.org).

Mission Statement

The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry is a national association representing and serving its members and the field of geriatric psychiatry. AAGP promotes the mental health and well-being of older people through professional education, public advocacy, and support of career development for clinicians, educators, and researchers in geriatric psychiatry and mental health.

AAGP's Strategic Plan

• AAGP shall increase the number and promote the expertise of geriatric psychiatrists.
• AAGP shall improve access to appropriate, quality mental health care for older adults.
• AAGP shall increase the awareness of the mental health needs of the nation's elderly and promote effective treatments and the role of the geriatric psychiatrist.
• AAGP shall enhance the practice of geriatric psychiatrists and improve mental health practice in relevant disciplines and throughout all sites of care.
• AAGP shall increase the quality and quantity of late life mental health research.