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18th Annual Katz Policy Lecture: Mental Health & Aging
This 18th Annual Katz Policy Lecture examines emerging and existing policies associated with mental health and aging and their implications for older adults and their loved ones. Our keynote speaker, Matthew Fullen, Ph.D., LPCC, Associate Professor at Virginia Tech, discusses recent developments in Medicare policy related to older adult mental health care, and opportunities for stakeholders in the behavioral health and aging services sectors.
WatchSupporting LGBTQ+ Older Adults: Tips for Caregivers
As our population ages and society continually evolves, awareness of the diverse needs of different communities of older adults has increased. LGBTQ+ rights have undergone some major changes over the past few decades, and while there have been great triumphs, there have been many challenges as well, including some that are particular to older individuals. Caregivers must be aware of these specific challenges and provide holistic, inclusive support to ensure the well-being of their LGBTQ+ older loved ones. Here are key considerations and strategies for caregivers dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ older adults.
Read MoreFinding the Dementia Support Programs You Need
Caring for someone living with dementia is challenging on so many levels. For most of us, there are aspects to providing care that require skills, training and education we feel we just don’t have. There are aspects to disease education and managing behaviors that are difficult to know. And there is also the stress and strain of providing care -- which for many of us is something we do on top of working and having a family of our own.Â
Read MoreFree Online Directory Helps Caregivers in Underserved Populations Access Dementia Support Programs
Best Programs for Caregiving, a newly-introduced online directory of evidence-based dementia caregiver support programs is making big strides in helping to expand both awareness and availability of top-rated programming in underserved rural and remote areas across the country. Difficult-to-access geographies are a real concern to the medical and social service organizations, and many recent initiatives have been devoted to addressing these underserved areas of the aging population. This is particularly true in the case of people living with dementia and their family and friend caregivers for a number of reasons.
Read MoreThe Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Older Adults and How Caregivers Can Help
In many cultures, alcohol consumption is so engrained in social rituals that not drinking seems much stranger to people than frequently drinking. However, alcohol is never without its risks, and this is especially true for older people. Older adults are much more vulnerable to the adverse effects of alcohol than younger people due to age-related changes to their bodies, medication interactions and other health conditions. And though reckless drinking is an issue most people associate with younger people, older adults, especially those in the 55-64 range, are more at risk of alcohol-induced deaths than any other age category, according to data from the CDC.Â
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