Local Trainings
1. The Everyday Experience of Aging
Purpose
It is important for service providers to understand that the vast majority of older adults enjoy good mental health and adapt well to age-related changes. This module provides information on aging as experienced by most older adults.
Content Summary
Features interviews with a diverse group of older adults who vary in age, gender, life experiences, sexual orientation, income, living situations, and physical abilities. Information presented includes the vital role of older adults in their families and communities, age-related changes and how older adults adapt to those changes, and ways they optimize mental health in the face of physical and social challenges are highlighted.
2. Behavioral Health Partners in Older Adult Behavioral Health
Purpose
This module targets those who do not work in behavioral health. Knowledge about the behavioral health system will facilitate interagency partnerships to optimize services for older adults. Behavioral health providers who participate in this training can provide specific information about behavioral health services in your community.
Content Summary
Describes behavioral health needs in older adults, how the behavioral health services system works in Oregon, how to access services, and the role of Older Adult Behavioral Health Specialists in bridging service gaps.
3. Aging Services Partners in Older Adult Behavioral Health
Purpose
This module targets those who do not work in aging services. Knowledge about aging services will facilitate interagency partnerships to optimize services for older adults. Aging services providers who participate in this training can provide specific information about aging services in your community.
Content Summary
This module describes aging services needs of older adults, how aging services works in Oregon, how to access services, and the role of community aging services providers in bridging service gaps.
4. What’s Happening with Gladys?
Purpose
This is one of four modules that focus on clinical issues in which behavioral health needs of older adults can be challenging and require professionals to work across agencies and disciplines. This module focuses on anxiety and fear of falling.
Content Summary
Actors portray “Gladys”, who has a history of anxiety, and a relationship with the Client Services Coordinator of the Meals program. General information is presented on anxiety and falls, including prevalence, symptoms, screening and assessment, and treatment and interventions. Multidisciplinary team members individually and collectively describe their approaches to working with someone like Gladys, modeling best practices and identifying community resources.
5. Bill’s Search for Lois
Purpose
This clinical module focuses on clinical issues related to Parkinson’s disease and dementia. It demonstrates the challenges of medical management of Parkinson’s disease symptoms and understanding behaviors associated with the dementia that often accompanies the disease.
Content Summary
Actors portray “Bill”, who is looking for his wife, Lois, and Bill’s son who is trying to keep his father from losing his place in an Adult Foster Home because of his behaviors. General information is presented on Parkinson’s disease and the unique features of dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease. Information includes prevalence, symptoms, screening and assessment, and treatment and interventions. Multidisciplinary team members individually and collectively describe their approaches to working with someone like Bill, modeling best practices and identifying community resources.
6. Has Anyone Seen George?
Purpose
This clinical module focuses on issues of isolation, depression, grief, substance abuse, and suicidal behavior. It demonstrates the challenges of identifying individuals at risk and connecting individuals to services.
Content Summary
Actors portray “George”, a life-long single farmer who can no longer manage his farm as he used to (and is grieving the loss of his dog), and the Sheriff who is the community gatekeeper alerting the service system to George’s situation. General information is presented about depression and suicide, substance abuse and suicide, and grief and depression. Information includes prevalence, symptoms, screening and assessment, and treatment and interventions. Multidisciplinary team members individually and collectively describe their approaches to working with someone like George, modeling best practices and identifying community resources.
7. We Have Another Call About Nell!
Purpose
This clinical module focuses on a middle-aged woman with schizophrenia whose diabetes is poorly controlled. Diabetes is a result of the antipsychotic medications she has been on for many years. People with severe mental illness often experience accelerated aging. This module demonstrates the difficulty of finding and maintaining services for someone with a severe mental illness.
Content Summary
Actors portray “Nell”, a person with schizophrenia who is experiencing a psychotic episode, and the nurse who cares for her in the emergency department. General information is presented on schizophrenia and co-occurring disorders. Information includes prevalence, symptoms, screening and assessment, and treatment and interventions. Multidisciplinary team members individually and collectively describe their approaches to working with someone like Nell, modeling best practices and identifying community resources.
8. Behavioral Health Issues and Advance Care Planning
Purpose
Advance care planning and providing end-of-life care can be especially challenging when behavioral health issues are involved. This module presents information on advance care planning with this population mind.
Content Summary
Information about assigning health care representatives, making wishes known, and use of resources such as the Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment are presented, using examples from the clinical modules (4–7) in this series.