Mental Health and Aging
Mental Health and Aging:
Information Dissemination Addressing the Specialized Mental Health Services and Resources Available for Older Adults Many of Whom are Medicaid Eligible (1999-2000)
This project, funded by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, was completed in collaboration with the Kansas Mental Health & Aging Coalition. The project involved faculty and staff from the Center for Aging as well as faculty from the KSU School of Family Studies & Human Services, State Research and Extension and members of the Kansas Mental Health and Aging Coalition. The project developed/disseminated a printed booklet about older adults and mental health services in Kansas, including services and resources and how to access them; developed a web-based information guide using the same information for access by professionals, para-professionals, and the public; and worked to improve service coordination among mental health, physical health, social/elder service providers and health benefits (e.g. Medicaid) to the benefit of older adults and their families throughout Kansas.
Mental Health and Aging:
Further Dissemination of Information from A Mental Health Guide for Older Kansans and Their Families (2000-2001)
The Project employed collaborative strategies that relied on the resources of both the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services and the Department on Aging to better reach and identify the older population with Mental illness, with the goal of reducing the long-term costs of care for these individuals. The project developed materials for presentation at training sessions and conferences attended by consumers and professionals who serve older adults; developed and disseminating a poster, bookmarks and fact sheets including selected information from the Mental Health Guide; and evaluated changes in the number of older adults seeking treatment for a mental illness.
Mental Health and Aging:
New Directions (2002-2004)
This two year project continued the partnership between Kansas State, the Kansas Mental Health and Aging Coalition and the Kansas Departments on Aging and Social and Rehabilitation Services. The project extended our earlier work by developing and evaluating training materials for Community Mental Health Center case and crisis care managers and by developing tools for increasing knowledge of older adults and their families about ways in which nutrition can impact mental health and consequences of nutrition drug interactions, including the use of herbals. These activities continued the project goals of improving knowledge about mental health issues as well as appropriate access to mental health services for older Kansans.