How Can We Help?
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):
Get Connected: Linking Older Adults with Resources on Medication, Alcohol, and Mental Health–2019 Edition – Designed for organizations that provide services to older adults, this toolkit offers information and materials to help understanding the issues associated with substance misuse and mental illness in older adults. The toolkit also contains materials to educate older adults. Publication ID – SMA03-3824; Publication Date – May 2017
Helping Older Adults After Disasters: A Guide to Providing Support – Outreach workers often work with older adults after disasters. This guide will help prepare staff for encounters with this population by describing common disaster reactions and providing tips and resources. Publication ID – PEP19-01-01-001; Publication Date – September 2019
Treatment of Depression in Older Adults Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) KIT – This kit offers information about an array of evidence-based practices for treatment and services to improve outcomes for older adults experiencing depression, including dysthymia. It considers planning, implementation, and maintenance. Publication ID – SMA11-4631; Publication Date – September 2011
Guidance on Inappropriate Use of Antipsychotics: Older Adults and People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Community Settings – This Guidance reviews non-pharmacologic behavioral approaches and strategies to avoid and reduce prescribing of antipsychotics whenever possible for older adults with dementia and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Publication ID – PEP19-INAPPUSE-BR; Publication Date – April 2019
Growing Older: Providing Integrated Care for An Aging Population – This report for clinicians explains approaches to providing integrated care to older adults living with substance use disorder and mental illness. It highlights the importance of assessing patients for cognitive deficits and adapting behavioral interventions to help improve treatment outcomes. Publication ID – SMA16-4982; Publication Date – October 2016
Older Adults Living with Serious Mental Illness: The State of the Behavioral Health Workforce – This brief provides an overview of workforce issues to consider when addressing the needs of older adults living with serious mental illness (SMI). Information includes demographics; challenges faced by a provider workforce, and ideas for strengthening the geriatric workforce to address SMI. Publication ID – PEP19-OLDERADULTS-SMI; Publication Date – May 2019
Growing Older: Providing Integrated Care for An Aging Population – This report for clinicians explains approaches to providing integrated care to older adults living with substance use disorder and mental illness. It highlights the importance of assessing patients for cognitive deficits and adapting behavioral interventions to help improve treatment outcomes. Publication ID – SMA16-4982; Publication Date – October 2016
Good Mental Health is Ageless – This brochure aims to help older adults understand the importance of good mental health. It identifies signs of depression and emotional issues, and offers steps to overcome them. Publication ID –SMA15-3618; Publication Date –December 2015
A Day In The Life Of Older Adults: Substance Use Facts – This report presents facts about substance use among adults age 65 and older, including information on substance use on an average day, receipt of substance use treatment, and emergency department (ED) visits. This paper draws upon three SAMHSA data collections: the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), and the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). Published Date: May 11, 2017; Collected Date:2007-2014; Data Source:National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Drug Abuse Warning Network, Treatment Episode Data Set; Report Type:Data Review or Analytical Report
ACL Behavioral Health Webpage –
All Americans—including people with disabilities and older adults—should be able to live at home with the supports they need, participating in communities that value their contributions. To help meet these needs, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) created the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in 2012.
ACL brings together the efforts and achievements of the Administration on Aging (AoA), the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD), and the HHS Office on Disability to serve as the Federal agency responsible for increasing access to community supports, while focusing attention and resources on the unique needs of older Americans and people with disabilities across the lifespan.
•The Opioid Public Health Emergency and Older Adults
–Aging and Disability Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (ADEPP) Reviews
Training, Toolkits, and Publications from ACL
Eldercare Locator: a nationwide service that connects older Americans and their caregivers with trustworthy local support resources. -Phone: 1-800-677-1116
Mental Health First Aid – National Council for Behavioral Health – Resources
Medscape article – Seniors With COVID-19 Show Unusual Symptoms, Doctors Say