NASW Celebrates Older Americans Month and Older Americans’ Mental Health Week
NASW Observes Older Americans Month
During the month of May, NASW observes Older Americans Month, sponsored by the Administration on Aging. This year’s theme—Older Americans: Making Choices for a Healthier Future—highlights the changes needed in health care and long-term care to enable current and future generations of older adults to live independently and with dignity. Social workers are striving to bring about these changes, such as increased access to
- Health information, including information about cost-effective preventive practices that improve quality of life and reduce risk of disease, disability, and injury;
- Affordable, gerontologically centered health care;
- Long-term care information that enables older adults and their families to meet current needs and plan for the future;
- Flexible, affordable home- and community-based services that maximize older adults’ choices and support family caregivers;
- Residential long-term care settings that promote self-determination and meet residents’ emotional, social, and medical needs; and
- Affordable mental health services, designed to meet the unique needs of older adults.
Additional Funds Needed for Older Americans Act
The Older Americans Act (OAA), enacted in 1965, supports a variety of services that enhance the health and well-being of older adults. Additional funding is needed in FY08 to continue and expand programs essential to older adults’ independence and dignity. Social workers and consumers play a crucial role in advocating for OAA funding. Click here to learn more or take action: www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/alerts/2007/050107.asp
Funding Sought for New Respite Care Act
Support for family and other informal caregivers is key to helping older adults remain in their homes. As a member of the Lifespan Respite Task Force, NASW lobbied for the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006, which was signed into law in December. This act will expand access to respite care for family caregivers and improve local coordination of services. NASW and the Task Force are advocating for appropriation of funds to implement this legislation in FY08.
Mental and Emotional Health—A Vital Component of Overall Health
Recognizing both the importance of mental health in aging and social workers’ pivotal role in providing mental and emotional health services to older adults, NASW continues its partnership with the Older Women’s League (OWL) and other organizations in promoting Older Americans’ Mental Health Week (May 21-27). The goal of the week is to raise awareness about the mental health needs of older adults. For the 2007 observance, OWL conducted a poll to assess the knowledge and attitudes about mental health and aging among nursing assistants, physician assistants, and physical therapists. The results indicate the need to educate these health care professionals—especially for nursing assistants, who have the most contact with older adults in their practice and who also held the most misperceptions—that
- Depression is not a normal part of aging;
- Mental health treatment does not become less effective as people age;
- Suicide rates are highest for adults over the age of 75; and
- Depression, suicide, and substance use are not signs of weakness.
OWL’s poll also found that most nursing assistants, physician assistants, and physical therapists do not feel confident in their ability to recognize or address signs of mental health problems in their patients. While these professionals are most likely to refer patients with signs of mental health disorders to primary care physicians, many also refer to mental health professionals, including social workers.
Social Work’s Role in Aging and Mental Health
With their training in mental health assessment and treatment, their skills in collaboration, and their close proximity to other health and allied health professionals in health and long-term care settings, social workers are well positioned to educate other professionals about mental health and aging—and to provide mental and emotional health services to older adults. In a 2004 study of licensed social workers nationwide, NASW’s Center for Workforce Studies (http://workforce.socialworkers.org) found that almost 75 percent of social workers provide services to adults 55 and older, regardless of the practice setting or focus. This number will likely increase as the U.S. population ages. Among the 12 percent of social workers who specialize in aging practice, psychosocial issues, mental illness, and grief and bereavement issues rank among their clients’ top concerns.
Aging and Mental Health Resources at NASW
NASW has developed a number of resources to educate older adults and their families about mental health and aging issues and to enhance the skills of social workers serving older adults. This list is included in OWL’s Older Americans’ Mental Health Week toolkit, available in print and CD-rom formats. Click here to view NASW’s list of aging and mental health resources for consumers and social workers.
Positive Aging Act Seeks Expanded Mental Health Services
Many older adults don’t use mental and emotional health services because those services are inaccessible. The Positive Aging Act of 2007 (S.982/H.R.1669) was reintroduced in both the House and the Senate in late March. This bipartisan legislation is designed to integrate mental health services for older adults in primary health care settings and to expand community-based mental health services. NASW is working with mental health and aging groups to increase the number of cosponsors for the bill.
Expanding Social Work Services to Nursing Home Residents
NASW is also supported by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), one of the 10 social workers in Congress, in promoting the Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity Act of 2007 (S.1212), which was reintroduced in late April. This bill would expand mental health services to nursing home residents by allowing clinical social workers to bill Medicare Part A directly for psychotherapy services provided in skilled nursing facilities—a privilege already enjoyed by psychologists and physicians. Click here to learn more: www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/alerts/2007/0501072.asp
Take Action on Behalf of Older Adults
NASW urges people of all ages and social workers to plan, promote, and participate in activities during Older Americans’ Mental Health Week, Older Americans Month, and throughout the year that enhance the independence and dignity of older adults. Please check this site for updates regarding policy and practice issues affecting older adults and social work practice in aging. For more information regarding Older Americans’ Mental Health Week—including locating activities sponsored by OWL chapters across the country—please visit www.owl-national.org