Services for Older Adults Gain with Partnerships

A wide range of activities for older adults and those who help care for them resulted from efforts by the Older Adult Health and Mental Wellness Program sponsored by Tri-County Mental Health Services.

A key factor in this success is Tri-County's emphasis on working with other organizations and services in order to maximize its reach and best serve the area's older adults.

Collaboration took on several forms. For example, Tri-County has worked with nearly every hospital in the Northland, providing training for medical and other staff to increase their capabilities in dealing with the Northland’s older adult mental health needs. Jane Bartlett, Ray County Senior Services Board administrator, cited extensive work there.

“This shows great success for the limited funding for Ray County seniors and their caregivers at all levels,” Bartlett noted.

Similar findings were noted in Clay County. “Clay County Senior Services has been pleased with our partnership and funding of Tri-County Mental Health Center,” noted Tina Uridge, executive director. “Our older adults and their families have improved access to resources and treatment. They have gained understanding that depression is not a normal part of aging.”

A story at one Northland hospital was a good example. After a staff training, the hospital’s social worker approached Tri-County and inquired about a female older adult client who had been hospitalized multiple times over the past year for falls and severe depression. The social worker was unaware of Tri-County’s ability to provide in-home depression assessments when necessary. Tri-County was able to make immediate contact with the client and scheduled an in-home mental health assessment. The client was referred for both in-home therapy and case management services and office-based psychiatry.

The year-end reports for both Clay and Ray counties revealed other successes. Outreach included numerous presentations such as a talk on healthy living at the Ray County Senior Center, and a senior housing center in Clay County. There also were presentations to professionals about substance abuse among older adults or presentations requested by professional and community groups on older adult grief were only a few examples.

The professional efforts also have involved training and networking for older adult caregivers. Tri-County helped found the Aging and Mental Health Coalition of Kansas City North. The program continues to offer regionally recognized programs on everything from psychiatry for older adults to ethics discussions about end-of-life decisions.

“The goal is to increase the awareness of services that are available for older adults and to help fill any gaps that we find,” Tri-County President and CEO Tom Cranshaw concluded. “It’s gratifying to see that even in the past six months, we’ve continued to make this much headway.”

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