The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is proud to announce our partnership with the Older Women’s League (OWL) to promote Older Americans’ Mental Health Week, which exists to raise awareness about the mental health needs of older adults.

OWL and NASW sponsored a briefing for congressional staff and the public. Along with other speakers, Lisa Yagoda, NASW’s Senior Policy Associate for Aging, presented an overview of mental health and aging issues and outlined model outreach programs serving older adults in the community. The following is the text of the speech:

Older American’s’ Mental Health Week Congressional Briefing

May 25, 2005
Statement of Lisa Yagoda, MSW, ACSW
National Association of Social Workers

Good afternoon. My name is Lisa Yagoda, Senior Policy Associate for Aging with the National Association of Social Workers. NASW is an organization of over 150,000 social work professionals who are dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of older Americans and advocating for the care of all people affected by mental health disorders. On behalf of NASW’s members, I am delighted to be here today to express support for Older American’s Mental Health Week as well as the Positive Aging Act that will help make mental health services an integral part of care in the community and other settings where seniors reside and receive services.

Too many of our older citizens experience depression, dementia, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders, and all too often these conditions go unrecognized or untreated. The high rate of mental illnesses among older adults has given rise to the belief that mental illness and aging go hand-in-hand. Mental illness, however, is not a normal part of aging, and it has staggering personal, social, and economic costs. Failure to diagnose and treat these disorders leads to diminished quality of life, poor physical health, increased dependence, premature institutionalization, and even suicide. In fact, older adults have the highest rates of suicide compared to any other age group. Studies show older adults have suicide rates close to 50 percent higher than that of the nation as a whole.

There are numerous studies that demonstrate that older adults prefer to age in their own homes and communities, which are familiar, safe, and near family and friends. In the later part of the 20 th century, it became evident that large segments of the older population resided in what has been coined as “NORCs” or Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities. Each NORC is unique—a geographic entity shaped by its buildings, residents, communities, and local service providers. This uniqueness has led to a number of creative models of service delivery. For example, in 1986, New York City’s Penn South housing cooperative became the first NORC in the nation with a supportive services program.

The National NORCs Aging in Place Initiative has propelled a number of innovative community-based service models around the country. Services are in keeping with the policies of the U.S. Administration on Aging and vary to meet the needs of seniors. In general, these community-based models include a mix of supportive and mental health services with focal points consisting of outreach, case management, and social services. Model programs such as these distinguish themselves from other programs by offering services in close proximity to where seniors live. These programs strive to empower communities to engage with and recognize seniors as valuable members of society, and to enable seniors to age in place with dignity and quality of life.

Community-based outreach programs work closely with primary care physicians, licensed mental health professionals, outpatient mental health programs, and local area agencies on aging to provide easily accessible care to older adults with a variety of mental health concerns such as late-onset mental illness, life transitions, as well as mental health problems that are more severe in nature.

Unfortunately, the community mental health programs that currently serve our nation’s older population are inadequate because there are simply not enough of them. The mental health system for older persons is a complex arena of care, which is a factor that further contributes to underutilization. Fragmentation of services for older people, poor reimbursement for mental health providers, and services that are not designed to meet the unique mental health needs of older adults make it difficult, if not impossible, for older people to gain access to the mental health services that they need and deserve.

Many common mental health problems could be treated early and successfully through a variety of community-based interventions. Bringing mental health care and supportive services to communities, senior centers, adult day care programs, assisted living facilities, and community health centers where older Americans already live or receive social services is critical to promoting appropriate and timely interventions.

The Positive Aging Act, which is being introduced today, is an example of how health and mental health professionals and the Aging Network can work together to reach out to older adults who suffer from a mental health disorder. Initiatives such as these, which promote mental health services in the community, are critical because they come at the cusp of an aging tidal wave.