Mental Health and Older Adults
Continued intellectual, social and physical activity throughout the life cycle are important for the maintenance of mental health later in life. Normal aging is not characterized by mental or cognitive disorders. Still, as the population grows older, mental illness among older adults is becoming a more widespread problem. Luckily, there has been rapid growth in the number of clinical, research and training centers dedicated to the mental health-related needs of older people. Effective interventions are available for most mental disorders experienced by older adults. The Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) addresses the behavioral health needs of older adults through collaboration with other state agencies, boards, providers, families and consumers.
(Sources: Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging and Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General)
Older Ohioans Behavioral Health Network
This network is operated by the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities (OACBHA). Its priorities include integration of physical and behavioral care, collaboration of aging and behavioral health service providers and stigma reduction.
Older Ohioans Behavioral Policy Institute
Held in Columbus in December 2005, the institute provided a forum to identify strategic policies and approaches to strengthen Ohio's public behavioral healthcare approach to the needs of older adults. The objectives were to bring together key stakeholders to focus attention on the elder boom in Ohio; to begin to collect information on alcohol, drug addiction and mental health services available and those needed for older adults and to offer ideas, recommendations and strategies for the newly created Older Ohioans Behavioral Health Network. During the institute, stakeholders heard the national and Ohio-specific perspectives and statistics related to this population and then began brainstorming about successes and barriers to behavioral health services for older adults. The network, taking a leadership role on these priorities, is serving as the catalyst for the development of a more coordinated and systematic approach to help Ohio's growing senior population deal with alcohol, drug addiction and mental health concerns.
Ohio Network of Care
The Ohio Network of Care provides information about Ohio behavioral health and senior services and national resources.
Ohio Department of Aging
This department provides services to people ages 60+ through eleven area agencies on aging, which employ nurses, social workers and other staff. Several agencies have adopted Healthy IDEAS (Identifying Depression and Empowering Activities for Seniors) -- an evidence-based early-intervention practice. For more information about implementing evidence-based practices for older adults, see the National Council on Aging Web site.
Adult Protective Services
Adult Protective Services are provided to the elderly Ohioans who are in danger of harm and/or are unable to protect themselves. County departments of job and family services are mandated to investigate and evaluate all reports of suspected abuse, neglect and exploitation of adults age 60 and over. Adults who experience abuse, neglect or exploitation are offered supportive services, as available, for protection and self-sufficiency.
Older Adults and the Transformation State Incentive Grant
The Older Ohioans Behavioral Health Network serves as one of the Content Working Groups of the Transformation State Incentive Grant. It is Ohio's coordinating hub for older adults' mental health and substance issues and information needs. It also addresses the behavioral health needs of older adults and aims to reduce abuse and trauma-related issues across multiple systems. The priorities are to:
- Sustain and enhance a robust, cross-system collaboration at the state and local level for behavioral health care for older adults
- Promote physical and behavioral health care integration for older adults
- Eliminate stigma associated with mental illness and addiction disease among older adults
For more information, visit the Transformation State Incentive Grant page.