Mental Health and Aging Implementation Group

Membership

 

Mental Health and Aging Implementation Group Charter

Current Situation

• Stigma is a barrier preventing seniors from accessing needing mental health services.  Anti-stigma initiatives are seldom targeted to the elderly.
• Ageism contributes to mental health needs going unnoticed and untreated (e.g., the belief that depression or “forgetfulness” is a normal part of aging).  It can also lead to a lack of interest in the mental health needs of seniors.
• Mental health services for the elderly are often inadequate or unavailable;
• The health, aging, and mental health service systems often lack integration and coordination.  Fragmentation of services, supports, and initiatives is commonplace.
• Health care professionals often only consider individual pathology.
• There is a lack of geriatric trained health care and mental health care professionals.
• Missouri lacks groups advocating for the mental health needs of elderly citizens.
• Adults with developmental disabilities are increasingly in crisis due to both greater longevity and aging parents no longer able to provide care.
• Alcohol and drug abuse problems often go unnoticed and untreated.
• The mental health needs of seniors residing in long-term care facilities are often overlooked.
• There has been no exploration concerning the proper use of mental health services and supports for persons suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias or Alzheimer’s disease and co-occurring mental illnesses.
• Seniors experience unnecessary hospitalizations and/or nursing facility placements due to treatable mental health and/or substance abuse problems.
• Seniors (especially white males) have the highest suicide rate of any age group.
• Currently, there is no operational plan in place to comprehensively identify the specific implementation steps for meeting Mental Health Transformation goals, objectives, and recommendations specific to the needs of elder Missourians.  

Desired Outcomes

An initial operational plan, specific to the needs of elder Missourians, to implement the goals, objectives, and recommendations of the Missouri Mental Health Transformation Plan will be produced.  This initial plan will ultimately culminate in the implementation of a system of care for older adults.

Scope

Working with a consultant with national expertise in mental health and aging issues and coalitions, the committee will:

• Identify the components to be included in the operational plan based on a thorough review of the Mental Health Transformation Plan goals, objectives, and recommendations.
• Develop initial operational plan.
• Propose management structure for ongoing monitoring and oversight of operational plan.
• Identify key stakeholders necessary to develop the implementation of the operational plan.
• Propose next steps in implementing initial operational plan.
• Present initial operational plan and recommendations to Transformation Working Group for direction on next steps.

 

April 3, 2008