May 05, 2008 - Vol 2, Issue 6
NYS Assembly Hearing on Geriatric Mental Health Act
On Friday, May 16th the NYS Assembly is holding a hearing to determine the outcomes of the Geriatric Mental Health Act and to consider the broadening of the role of the Interagency Geriatric Mental Health Council to include chemical dependence of older adults.
10:00 am on Friday, May 16th
Assembly Hearing Room, 19th Floor
250 Broadway
New York, NY
The opportunity to testify at the hearing is by invitation only. However, it would be terrific if you could attend to show your support.
Please let us know if you plan to attend. We hope to see you there!
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2nd Annual GMHA Conference
May 22, 2008 - 2nd Annual Geriatric Mental Health Alliance Conference
BRIDGES TO BETTER MENTAL HEALTH:
Merging Research and Practice for Improved Integration of Services to Older Adults
Location: Hotel Pennsylvania,
7th Avenue at 33rd Street New York, NY
Keynote: Robert Butler, M.D., Physician, Gerontologist, Psychiatrist, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. President and CEO, International Longevity Center USA, NY; Professor of Geriatrics at the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Founding Chairman, Dept. of Geriatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Founding Director, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Health.
The early bird registration deadline is Sunday, May 11th!!!
Register online or fax in your registration ASAP to get the discounted rate and send your payment in later.
Click here for the conference brochure and registration information or click here to view online registration
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Geriatric Mental Health Planning Council Webcast
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Adult Protective Services (APS) Changes
- Manhattan Borough APS is now divided into two offices, both located at 400 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10001:
1. Director: Janice Scott
Zip Codes: 10026, 10027, 10029, 10030, 10031, 10032, 10033, 10034, 10035, 10037, 10039, 10040, 10045
2. Director: Patrick Tavares
Zip Codes: 10001, 10002, 10003, 10007, 10009, 10010, 10011, 10012, 10013, 10014, 10016, 10017, 10018, 10019, 10021, 10022, 10023, 10025, 10028, 10036, 10038, 10044, 10128, 10162 - The Bronx APS Borough office formerly at 815 Burke Avenue has now relocated to 1209 Colgate Avenue, Bronx, NY 10472 (as of 03/28/2008). Main Number: (718) 589-4918
Director: Isaac Monserrate
Telephone: (718) 620-8880
Deputy Director: Jose Perez
Telephone: (718) 620-8891
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Other Upcoming Events
May 09, 2008 - Aging and Vision Policy and Practice in New York City and New York State: A Panel Presentation. The event will be from 10:00am - 12:00pm in the Auditorium of VISIONS at SELIS MANOR, 135 West 23rd St. (between 6th and 7th Avenues). For more information, please click here.
May 14, 2008 - COLLECTING vs. HOARDING: Clearing the Pathway to Understanding and Treatment A conference that will explore the dilemma between self neglect and self determination. The conference will take place from 8:30am to 1:00pm at the Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation Campus of Long Island Jewish Medical Center.
May 14, 2008 - Sandwiches for the Sandwich Generation A lecture series sponsored by One Stop Senior Services. Lectures will be held at the offices of One Stop Senior Services, 747 Amsterdam Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10025. Admission is free, but RSVP is required. Please email Trudi Cohen at tcohen@onestopseniorservices.com or call her at 212-864-7900 extension 18.
May 15, 2008 - "It's Your Health: Take Charge!": A Community Health Forum presented by The Health and Wellness Coalition of the Westchester County Dept. of Senior Programs and Services and part of County Executive Andy Spano's "Be Fit Westchester" campaign. This forum will feature physicians and other healthcare professionals who will discuss how to make informed healthcare choices. Local organizations will provide brochures and health and wellness literature. The event will be held from 08:30am to 12:30pm at the Westchester County Center, 198 Central Avenue, White Plains, NY 10606.
May 16, 2008 - An Open Door: Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Older Adults Through Civic, Cultural and Religious Affiliations presented by the Joint Public Affairs Committee for Older Adults (JPAC) and the Jewish Association of Services for the Aged (JASA). The event will be held from 09:00am to 12:30pm at UJA-Federation of NY, 130 East 59th St., New York, NY.
Please click here for the brochure and click here for the registration form.
May 16, 2008 - Free Stroke Alert Screenings Fair sponsored by St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan. Check your blood pressure, cholesterol and get some important information on preventing stroke. The event is on Friday, May 16 from 11:00am to 03:00pm in the Cronin Auditorium (10th Floor) at St. Vincent's Manhattan, 170 W. 12th St., New York, NY. Please call 1-800-CARE- 421 to register or to learn more. Walk-ins are also welcome. Light refreshments will be served.
May 28, 2007 - Disability and Aging: New Perspectives and Emerging Challenges Symposium sponsored by the NYU Silver School of Social Work. The symposium will be held from 9:00-1:00pm at the Kimmel Center for Student Life. For more information on this series, please click here.
May 29, 2008 - Hearthstone Alzheimer Family Foundation Lecture: "Improving Quality of Life of Individuals with Dementia and Family Caregivers: Promising Non-pharmacological Approaches to Dementia Care at Home." Dr. Laura Gitlin has been selected as the recipient of the 2008 Reisberg Award for Excellence in Non- Pharmacologic Treatment and Research in Alzheimer's Disease and will present at the Williams Club, 24 East 39th St. from 8:30am - 11:00pm. To RSVP, please contact Cindy Hecht, Hearthstone Alzheimer Care, 888-422-2273, hecht@thehearth.org.
June 4, 2008 - Save the Date: Assessment and Treatment of Pain in Cognitively Impaired Older Adults presented by the Schervier Center for Research in Geriatric Care. Keynote speaker is internationally known expert in pain and pain management, Keela Herr, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor and Chair of the Adult and Gerontological Nursing Area at the University of Iowa. Other featured speakers include: Steven Grenell, MD, Jeffrey Nichols, MD, Terry Altilio, LCSW and Susan Caccappolo, LCSW. The event will be held from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York. The registration fee is $50.00. For more information, please contact Dr. Paulette Sansone at 718-432-1939 or e-mail paulette_sansone@bshsi.org.
June 13, 2008 - Jarvie Commonweal Service 13th Annual Colloquium - The Graying Elephant in the Room: Addictions, Dependence & Risky Behaviors in Older People. Morning Plenary, Afternoon Policy Panel and workshops to address a wide range of issues and topics focused on understanding, preventing, addressing and helping support older people who seek to make changes in their behavior related to alcohol, prescription drugs, illicit drugs, food, spending, gambling, sex, cigarettes, vitamins/health supplements, health "fixes," exercise, etc. The event will be held at The Interchurch Center, 475 Riverside Drive (120th Street) from 08:00am to 04:00pm. If you would like more information, please email june13@jarvie.org or call (212) 870-2967 with your name, title, agency, address, phone number and/or email address.
June 17-18th, 2008 - Save the Date: 12th Annual Aging Concerns Unite Us Conference at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center, Albany, NY.
September 13, 2008 - Save the Date: The Paradoxes of Aging: Psychotherapy with Older Adults A conference sponsored by The Met Chapter of the New York State Society of Clinical Social Workers and co- sponsored by the Geriatric Mental Health Alliance and Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service.
October 23-25, 2008 - Save-the-Date: State Society on Aging of New York 36th Annual Conference This year's theme is: Geriatric Mental Health: Practice, Research, Education, and Policy and the conference will be held at the Gideon Putnam Hotel in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Culturally Competent Practice: Integrative Model Serving Asians and Asian Americans Colloquium Series
The Institute of Community Health and Research (ICHR) and NYU's Silver School of Social Work (SSW) present a weekly colloquium series to discuss topics such as Mental Health and Psychosocial Adjustment, Work with Asian American Elders, Death/Dying and End of Life Services, and others. All sessions will be taught by community experts or SSW faculty. Interested participants meet Thursdays, 11:00am - 12:50pm in the 1st Floor Parlor, WSN Building, Silver School of Social Work, Ehrenkranz Center, One Washington Square North.
Please click here for more information.
Educational Activities for Healthcare Professionals Focusing on Older Adults sponsored by the Consortium of New York Geriatric Education Centers. Programs include reinventing senior centers and senior programs, new trends in discharge planning, falls prevention and more. Programs are from 8:45am -4:30pm and registration is $50.
Educational Seminar Series at Service Program for Older People (SPOP) This training opportunity features SPOP clinicians who have extensive experience with older adults and mental health. It is offered to the professional geriatrics community and all who work with seniors. Each seminar is held at: 302 West 91st Street at West End Avenue, New York, NY. Seminar fee: $15. Discount for 3 or more attendees from the same organization. Space is limited. Please register in advance by mail or online here or call: 212-787-7102 ext.515.
For topics, dates, and registration information, click here.
Educational Seminars by the Consortium of New York Geriatric Education Centers
- April 25, May 2, 9, 16 & 23, 2008 - Geriatric Mental Health and Emergency Preparedness. A Certificate Program - Topics include: Introduction to Emergency Preparedness and Mental Health & Aging; Healing in the Face of Disaster; Working with your Organization, First- Responders, and the Government; Clinical Response and Perspectives; and Community Response to Emergency Preparedness.
- May 6, 2008 - Successfully Transitioning Older Adults Between Levels of Care: A Team-Based Approach - Learn best practices in the transitioning of older adults between levels of care including the role of the team, financial considerations and entitlements, how to make healthy transitions work, and medication management. Appropriate for nurses, social workers, administrators, discharge planners, case managers, and others involved in older adult transitions.
- June 3, 2008 - Older Adult Substance Abuse, Alcoholism & Gambling: Profiles In Devastation - Through lecture, case presentation, and panel discussion we will discuss addictions and their impact on older adults.
- June 10, 2008 - Caregiving: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities - Examine caregiver roles from yesterday and today; teamwork strategies for successful caregiving; assessment strategies; kinship care; flourishing caregiving programs, approaches, and resources; and self-care for the professional caregiver. Appropriate for professional caregivers such as, but not limited to, nurses, social workers, case/care managers, therapists (psycho, physical, occupational, recreational) and so on.
To Register for Any Seminar, complete the information on the respective flyers or go to www.nygec.org and click on Registration and choose the program you would like to attend. Or, please contact Brenda Rodriguez at (212) 998-5618 or brenda.rodriguez@nyu.edu.
HIV/AIDS and Older Adults Trainings The AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA) and the Council of Senior Centers and Services (CSCS) is offering a citywide HIV training program funded by the New York City Council. These free trainings will help senior service providers address HIV prevention issues and understand better the needs of those aging with HIV. Each seminar is held at various locations.
For dates and registration information, click here.
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NAMI-NYC Metro wants to hear from you!
Speak Out about Access to Mental Health Services. NAMI-NYC Metro is working to improve access to mental health services for all New Yorkers and would love to hear your story. Interviews can be conducted via phone or in their midtown office, scheduled at your convenience. And all information will be kept strictly confidential. To schedule a half-hour interview or for more information, call Vera Oziransky at 212-684-3365 or email voziransky@naminyc.org.
Please click here for more information.
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Health and Aging Policy Fellows: APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MAY 27, 2008
The Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program is a unique opportunity for professionals in health and aging to receive the experience and skills necessary to make a positive contribution to the development and implementation of health policies that affect older Americans.
The nine-to-12-month program offers fellows the opportunity to participate in a residential track or a non-residential track. The residential track allows fellows to participate in the policymaking process on either the Federal or state level as legislative assistants in Congress, professional staff members in executive agencies or policy organizations. The non- residential track allows fellows to work on a policy project and brief placement(s) throughout the year at relevant sites. Core program components focused on career development and professional enrichment are provided for fellows in both tracks. Fellows also have the opportunity to apply for second-year funding to continue components of their fellowship experience/project either at their placement sites, at the state/local levels, or with non-governmental organizations.
Up to six fellows will be selected for the inaugural class of 2008-2009. The application deadline for 2008-2009 has been extended to May 27, 2008.
Click here to learn how to apply.
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In the News...Workforce Crisis Ahead
Too Few Mental Health Care Workers for Tomorrow's Older Americans New Institute of Medicine Report Forecasts Bleak Future for Older Adults Needing Mental Health Care
April 14, 2008
CONTACTS:
Kate McDuffie, E-mail: kmcduffie@aagponline.org, Phone: 301.654.7850 x113
Marj Vanderbilt, E-mail: mvanderbilt@aagponline.org, Phone: 301.654.7850 x107
Without changes at the national level, older Americans will lack access to affordable, quality health care--including mental health care--concludes the Institute of Medicine in its report, Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce , released April 14. The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) has long been concerned about the workforce in the area of late-life mental health care, particularly the declining numbers of doctors entering the field of geriatric psychiatry--those pursuing a research career, becoming clinician- educators, and entering clinical practice. The diminishing workforce in these areas will inevitably lead to inadequate access to quality mental health care for the aging Baby Boomers generation.
Last year, the Institute of Medicine undertook a project to examine the optimal health care workforce for older Americans in an aging society. The aim of the study was to determine the health care needs of Americans over 65 years of age, and address those needs through a thorough analysis of the forces that shape the health care workforce, including education, training, modes of practice, and financing of public and private programs. A committee of 15 experts, including AAGP's President-Elect Charles F. Reynolds, III, MD, met over a period of 15 months to study the best use of the workforce, how the workforce (both generalist and specialist) should be educated, the most effective organization of health care delivery, and needed improvements of public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
AAGP lauds the IOM for including a focus on the geriatric mental health care workforce. "We appreciate that the IOM recognizes the emerging public health crisis regarding older adults, and we are particularly appreciative of the expertise that was involved under the leadership of the committee chair Dr. Jack W. Rowe and the participation of Dr. Reynolds," said AAGP President Bruce G. Pollock, MD, PhD, FRCPC.
The prevalence of mental illness among older adults and the compounding effects of mental illness plus other illnesses argue for legislative and regulatory changes to increase access to care. With 1 in 10 Americans over age 65 and nearly half of those over 85 suffering from Alzheimer's disease, one-third of people age 71 and older having some cognitive impairment, and upwards of 5 percent of the elderly in the community and 13 percent of those in home health care living with depression, greater investments into a quality mental health care system are sorely needed.
Today there are just 3.9 geriatric psychiatrists for every 10,000 Americans age 85 and older and just 1.1 for every 10,000 over 75 years of age, according to the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs (ADGAP). It is estimated the country needs 5,000 geriatric psychiatrists, yet last year there were fewer than 1,600 board-certified geriatric psychiatrists in the United States.
The IOM report acknowledges that "the costs associated with extra years of geriatric training do not translate into additional income, and geriatric specialists tend to earn significantly less income than other specialists or even generalists in their own disciplines." AAGP's Pollock explained, "While the demand for specialized mental health care is great, physicians face several financial disincentives to entering the field of geriatric psychiatry such as annual scheduled cuts to Medicare physician payments and discriminatory coverage of mental health benefits under Medicare. This affects providers as well patients." Although Medicare Part B pays 80 percent of covered medical services, the program pays just 50 percent of covered mental health services, and many of those services are undervalued in the payment system. In addition, physician payments under Medicare are scheduled to be cut by 10 percent beginning in July, unless Congress intervenes.
The small numbers of specialists in geriatric mental health care, including geriatric psychiatry, combined with increases in life expectancy and the growing population of those age 65 and over, estimated to be 20 percent of the U.S. population in 2030 (up from 12 percent in 2006), foretells a crisis in health care that will impact older adults and their families nationwide. "Unless changes are made now, older Americans will face long waits, decreased choice, and suboptimal care," AAGP President-Elect Charles F. Reynolds, III, MD, said. The AAGP urges Congress, the regulatory agencies, and health care thought leaders to act upon the IOM's report and make the necessary changes to recruit and retain a skilled workforce in geriatrics and geriatric mental health care, and to adopt an efficient and effective organization of geriatric medical and mental health care services.
Interviews available upon request.
The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry is a national association representing and serving its members and the field of geriatric psychiatry. AAGP's mission is to enhance the knowledge base and standard of practice in geriatric psychiatry through education and research and to advocate for meeting the mental health needs of older Americans.
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In the News...Coming of Age on Antidepressants
Who Are We? Coming of Age on Antidepressants
By RICHARD A. FRIEDMAN, M.D.
Published: April 15, 2008
"I've grown up on medication," my patient Julie told me recently. "I don't have a sense of who I really am without it."
At 31, she had been on one antidepressant or another nearly continuously since she was 14. There was little question that she had very serious depression and had survived several suicide attempts. In fact, she credited the medication with saving her life.
But now she was raising an equally fundamental question: how the drugs might have affected her psychological development and core identity.
It was not an issue I had seriously considered before. Most of my patients, who are adults, developed their psychiatric problems after they had a pretty clear idea of who they were as individuals. During treatment, most of them could tell me whether they were back to their normal baseline.
Julie could certainly remember what depression felt like, but she could not recall feeling well except during her long treatment with antidepressant medications. And since she had not grown up before getting depressed, she could not gauge the hypothetical effects of antidepressants on her emotional and psychological development.
Her experience is far from unique. Since their emergence in the late 1980s, serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Prozac and Zoloft have become some of the most widely prescribed drugs in the world, for depressed teenagers as well as adults. Because depression is often a chronic, recurring illness, there are certain to be many young people, like Julie, who are coming of age on these newer antidepressants.
We know a lot about the course of untreated depression, probably more than we do about very long- term antidepressant use in this population. We know, for example, that depression in young people is a very serious problem; suicide is the third-leading cause of death in adolescents, not to mention the untold suffering and impaired functioning this disease exacts.
To read more, click here.
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In the News...Older Adults and Addiction
Late in life, one more chance to beat addiction
Program focuses on older drug and alcohol abusers
By CATHLEEN F. CROWLEY, Staff writer
First published: Monday, April 7, 2008
ALBANY -- They walk through the door limping, some using canes or wheelchairs, while others are still spry. They sip coffee and chat about their grandchildren.
The entryway of Senior Hope could be the waiting room of a doctor's office, until you hear things like this:
"Do your kids let you drive?"
"Oh, yes," comes the defiant response.
"Mine took the battery out of my car."
They are recovering alcoholics, drug users and prescription drug addicts. Most have spent their lives addicted to drugs or alcohol, while others began drinking or drugging to ease the boredom of retirement and their diminishing vitality.
The clients range from 50 to 86 years old and, for many, this is their last chance.
"They realize that most of their life is behind them and they want the rest of their life to be fruitful," said Bill Rockwood, who co-founded Senior Hope with his wife, Adrienne Rockwood.
More than 42,000 adults over age 50 were admitted into state-certified substance abuse treatment programs in 2006, according to the state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. The number is expected to grow exponentially as the Woodstock generation ages into the ranks of senior citizens.
One federal study estimates the number of older addicts in the United States will rise to 4.4 million by 2020, up from 1.7 million in 2001.
To read more, click here.
