Page 44 - BusinessWest December 26, 2022

social isolation, financial burdens, fewer mental- health professionals with expertise treating older adults, and complications of co-morbid cognitive and medical-health illnesses.
Through a referral system and a grant provided by the Massachusetts Assoc. for Mental Health, Bronner explained, a licensed clinical social worker and geriatric nurse practitioner will pro- vide care without the need for insurance, using a model that isn’t used through traditional insur- ance or counseling agencies: offering mental- health support to older adults in their homes or at community sites.
“They would meet at the senior center or in a person’s home or at a family member’s — wher- ever the older person feels most comfortable
is where we would kind of base our support. The biggest problem, I think, for older adults is that they often have complex physical health conditions.”
Indeed, older adults may experience reduced mobility, chronic pain, frailty, or other health problems, for which they require some form of long-term care. In addition, older people are more likely to experience events such as bereave- ment or a drop in socioeconomic status with retirement. All of these stressors can result in isolation, loneliness, or psychological distress
in older people, making it critical to meet their needs where they live.
House Calls
Despite the availability of safe and effective treatments, late-life mood disorders remain a large problem. A reason for this may be that the public sees depression and suicide as normal aspects of aging. A sizable portion of the popula-
tion views youth suicide as a greater tragedy than late-life suicide.
This way of thinking works against effective outreach to the elderly and efforts to understand and treat their conditions. The healthcare system is not meeting the needs of many elderly individ- uals, and discriminatory coverage and reimburse- ment policies for mental healthcare are signifi- cant barriers to treatment.
This age group also often grapples with stigma around mental health and seeking necessary care.
“They aren’t as open to therapy as the younger generations are. Everyone’s very into talking to a counselor, but I think that generation is less open to it,” Bronner said. “I think having the clinician go to the person versus someone having to go into a doctor’s office is just less threatening all around. We’re really excited about being able to provide the in-home component to people and meet them where they’re at.”
WMEC will partner with the Belchertown, Chi- copee, Hadley, South Hadley, and Ware COAs on this project, noting that COAs are ideal communi- ty-based service providers to coordinate preven- tion efforts, identification of signs and symptoms, referral, and collaboration with treatment provid- ers. The five Councils on Aging represent urban areas with a significant Latinx population as well as rural communities.
The project will aim to identify individuals who are living at home and in need of mental- health interventions. Referrals to the program can be made by anyone concerned about an older adult who lives in Belchertown, Chicopee, Granby, Hadley, Holyoke, Ludlow, South Hadley, or Ware by contacting WMEC’s Information and Referral department or by visiting www.wmelder-
care.org/mental-health-outreach-referral-form to make a referral.
Bronner said the licenced clinician will not only be able to work collaboratively with the geriatric nurse practitioner, but could possibly conduct a medication reconciliation or make recommendations for further treatment, as well as working with that senior’s case manager to get additional in-home support if they need and want it.
“
the person versus someone having to go into a doctor’s office is just less threatening all around.”
Trust and support is the main goal when work- ing with seniors in this position. Trusting a strang- er to come to one’s home can feel threatening, she added.
“I think once they [the social worker and nurse practitioner] get in and meet with them and they see it’s going well, they’re more recep- tive to accepting support. I think that starts with meeting with them in their own homes because of transportation and complex medical needs, sometimes. And also, again, if we make a con- nection with one of the team members and an older adult, they’re more receptive to accepting support.”
Outreach
Continued on page 56
I think having the clinician go to
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